This report deals with noise made by lawn mowers, with protective structures for construction plant, powered industrial trucks, safety belts and electrical equipment used in mines. Article 100 of the EEC Treaty provides machinery for the removal of non-fiscal barriers to intra-Community trade and for the setting of certain standards. In the case of lawn mowers the proposed Directive provides that Member States may not permit motor-powered lawn mowers to be marketed if their noise emission levels exceed specified levels. The other proposals are similarly based. I do not think there is any need for me to go through them in detail.
Lawn Mowers, Powered Industrial Trucks, Protective Structures for Construction Plant, Safety Belts, Anchorages and Interior Fittings of Motor Vehicles, and Electrical Equipment.
I think you were wise to consult the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. I do not suggest that this report should be held up. I think it would be well if the IDA were also consulted in future similar cases.
That is a good suggestion particularly when we talk about Irish industry.
The Department might back that up too.
Is there a definite Community standard?
Under Article 100 the Community has power to harmonise the standards which apply. Sometimes the Community will be setting, for instance, a basic safety standard, a basic health standard, a machine noise level standard. Sometimes the Community will be requiring the removal of what are effectively non-fiscal, non-monetary barriers to trade. If something complies with a certain standard it has to be admitted into all Member States, it has to be afforded free movement between the Member States. All those proposals are very technical and very narrow in their impact. Having consulted the various bodies involved, the CII, the FUE and the trade union movement, we are confident that the proposals do not present problems. This is either because we have no industry here that is affected or because we already comply with the standards.
They do not increase danger.
No. They are on the safety side.
You seem to be in favour of any industry, regardless of whether it is employing child workers. In relation to all the regulations the Minister was prepared to make regarding mines, have those regulations been made? I have an idea that at least for some time after the relevant Act was passed those regulations had not been made.
Paragraphs 1 to 18, inclusive, agreed to.
Draft Report agreed to.
Ordered: To report accordingly.