Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 6

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Authority Report.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

113 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the progress that has been made with regard to the publication of the Health and Safety Authority report following incidents in 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

I presume that the Deputy is referring to five particular incidents which occurred at factories in counties Cork, Kilkenny and Dublin in the second half of 1993.

The House will recall that, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 11 on 8 February last (Official Report, Volume 438, Columns 840-842), I stated that, in the case of three of these incidents, files had been prepared by the Health and Safety Authority and submitted to the Chief State Solicitor's Office with a view to prosecution. Since then a further file has been prepared for the Chief State Solicitors in respect of the incident at a canning factory in Waterford. One of the cases submitted to the Chief State Solicitor was heard in Waterford District Court on 29 April 1994 and a fine of £1,500 was imposed on the company. Three cases are still awaiting court proceedings while the Authority is satisfied that no further action would be appropriate in the remaining case.

With the exception of the explosion at Hickson Pharmachem, Ringaskiddy, County Cork, which is one of the cases subject to proceedings, that Authority does not consider that the publication of a report on the incidents referred to is warranted. The Authority comments from time to time on industrial accidents by way of its newsletter, its annual report and/or general press releases and both those cases where action has been finalised have been dealt with in this manner. I have, however, asked the Authority to report the findings of a comprehensive survey which they are undertaking at my request on the safety of the chemical and allied industries in Ireland. I understand that this survey, which will target over 100 separate plants, will be completed early in 1995.

A report of the Authority on the Hickson Pharmachem incident will not be released until the matter has been concluded in the courts.