Vol. 484 No. 3
39 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, she has to review the standards for children's clothes in relation to their fire resistant content in view of the recent serious incident where a child died when her clothes caught fire; and whether the law on children's night-dresses should be extended to all children's clothes in view of this incident. [21967/97]
I fully appreciate the concerns which the Deputy has expressed. I am asking the Director of Consumer Affairs and the National Standards Authority of Ireland jointly to review the issue of flammability of clothing in general and to make recommendations on any further steps that might be taken in our efforts to avoid a recurrence of the recent tragedy.
The Industrial Research and Standards (section 44) (Children's Night-dresses) (Amendment) Order, 1979, prohibits the manufacture, assembly or sale of children's night-dresses unless they comply with the flammability requirements of Irish Standard 148. This standard also defines children's night-dress in terms of age and measurability and invokes an earlier Standard (I. S. 128 of 1966) which contains provisions on flammability and defines flame resistance ratings and durability.
The flammability of clothing generally, and children's clothing particularly, is of serious concern to safety enforcement practitioners. A real difficulty in addressing it is the wide range and styles of clothing and materials, man-made and natural. It would be a major task to prepare suitable standards to comprehensively cover the full range of apparel.
I am aware that some manufacturers and retail outlets have begun to attach labels to clothing, especially children's clothing, advising consumers of the flammable nature of materials being used. Voluntary action by the clothing industry in this regard is something I strongly encourage.
