asked the Minister for Labour if he will list the draft items of EC legislation which are under consideration by the Social Affairs Council or any working group thereof; and, in respect of each item (a) the stage reached and (b) the attitude Ireland has taken or proposes to take.
Written Answers. - EC Draft Legislation.
235.
I am interpreting the question as applying to proposals for Council Directives produced by the European Commission's Directorate General V — Employment, Social Affairs and Education — which are at present under discussion or are expected to be discussed during the current German Presidency. Particulars of these draft directives are set out in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
An important item which is expected to be referred to the Social Affairs Council during the current Presidency is the Commission proposal for an implementing regulation for the European Social Fund. That regulation will follow from the framework regulation for the reform of the three Community Structural Funds which is at present under consideration by the General Affairs Council. The Irish attitude to the draft of the implementing regulation, when published, will depend largely on the provisions envisaged by it for additional ESF assistance to be made available to the less developed Community regions, including Ireland.
Following is the statement:
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Subject of Draft Directive |
Stage Reached |
Irish Position |
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1. Protection of workers by the proscription of specified agents and/or work activities (carcinogens). |
Provisional agreement by Council in December, 1987 by qualified majority. Currently before the European Parliament. |
Ireland broadly supports these draft Directives although there is a doubt about whether a Directive is the most appropriate form of instrument for those listed at 9 and 10. Their introduction is in keeping with Article 118A of the Single European Act, which places equal emphasis on the achievement of the economic and social objectives of the completion of the internal European market. |
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2. Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to benzene at work. |
Common position agreed by the Council and by the European Parliament — almost at finality. |
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3. First amendment to Framework Directive on the protection of workers in the workplace. |
Progress being made at Council working group level. |
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4. Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work. |
Proposal is being considered at Council working group level. |
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5. Introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at the workplace. |
Under discussion at Council working group level. |
At EC level, Ireland is advocating that the proposals for Directives should be flexible, carefully produced, and that adequate prior consultation should take place with member states, and representatives of employers and workers, before proposals are finalised. |
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6. Minimum safety and health requirements for workplaces (first individual Directive within the meaning of Article 13 of the “framework” Directive). |
Under discussion at Council working group level. |
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7. Minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of machines, equipment and installations (second individual Directive). |
Awaiting discussion. |
Ireland has made it clear that it wants to have the special position of small and medium sized enterprises properly recognised and has requested that emerging texts should be framed accordingly. |
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8. Minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment (third individual Directive). |
Awaiting discussion. |
Ireland has taken the view that the completion of the implementation of equal treatment for men and women is to be welcomed. |
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9. Minimum safety and health requirements for work with visual display units (fourth individual Directive). |
Awaiting discussion. |
As far as Ireland is concerned, the principal implication of the proposed Directive is that it would necessitate that survivors' pensions and similar payments would be made available on the same basis to men and women. |
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10. Minimum safety and health requirements for the handling of heavy goods involving risk of back injuries to workers (fifth individual Directive). |
Awaiting discussion. |
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11. Proposal for a Council Directive completing the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in statutory and occupational social security schemes. |
Discussions by working party on social questions have been concluded and the proposal will be considered at the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for Women's Affairs in Berlin on 25 and 26 April, prior to being submitted for Council decision. |
The implementation of the Directive will require a fundamental re-examination of the existing conditions for entitlement under these schemes and Ireland has supported the consensus view of the member states that an adequate period of time should be given for member states to make the necessary arrangements to implement the provisions. |