Peter Barry
Ceist:234 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the State agencies under her control, have prepared a safety, statement as required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.
Written Answers. - Safety Statement.
The Health and Safety Authority have established an advisory committee on the health services sector to provide recommendations and advice on the implementation of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 in the highly complex and diverse area of health care provision. This committee are due to report shortly and I shall be communicating with the agencies for whom I have responsibility, both statutory and voluntary, to ensure full compliance with the Act as soon as possible.
Already significant progress has been made towards implementation of the Act in the health services, for example, six of the eight regional health boards have completed parent safety statements and are now engaged in preparing the necessary ancillary statements for individual health care facilities. The other State agencies for which I am responsible are in the process of drafting the necessary statements. I expect this process to accelerate once the expert guidance of the health and safety specialist committee is available.
As regards my Department, a draft safety statement has been prepared and is being finalised in consultation with staff representatives.