Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 Mar 1999

Vol. 503 No. 1

Written Answers. - Public Safety.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

60 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will respond to the correspondence from the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland of 6 January 1999 relating to the serious issues of public safety; her views on legislative change in this area; if she will take responsibility for action in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8643/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I received a representation from the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland on 18 January last. This was forwarded to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for direct reply early in February.

I have previously outlined to the Deputy that my Department has no statutory function in relation to this issue. My Department is responsible for the economic regulation of the electricity industry. There are national wiring rules which address the issue of safety of electrical wiring. These rules are drawn up by the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland (ETCI) which is a non-statutory association made up of the various interested parties. The members of the two recognised regulatory bodies, ECSSA and RECI, are required to comply with these rules. The question at issue here is who should monitor and enforce the voluntary standards and whether this can be done by more than one body. While the health and safety authority has a general responsibility for these matters in the case of non-domestic installations in the context of the safety and health of workers, it does not have such a role in respect of domestic installations.

As the Deputy is aware, the ESB sets criteria for recognition of self-regulatory bodies for the electrical contractors. These criteria, which were set as a result of litigation between ESB and electrical contractors who did not wish to join RECI, comply with the requirements of competition law. The ESB is represented on the board of ECSSA and RECI. In the light of the concerns expressed about the self-regulatory regime, my Department has been in contact with the ESB on the matter. The ESB has indicated that its representatives are satisfied that sufficient inspectors have been appointed by both bodies to meet the criteria set for the establishment of regulatory bodies for the electrical contracting industry.

In view of the health and safety authority's existing role in relation to non-domestic electrical installations, my Department initiated discussions with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment concerning a possible supervisory role for the authority in relation to electrical installations generally. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently considering its approach in relation to this matter.