Workplace Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 May 2014

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Ceisteanna (9)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

9. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at European level the International Labour Organization's Decent Work campaign and Turkey's refusal to sign the ILO convention, in view of the recent mining accident which saw the deaths of 301 persons and in view of the fact that many are still unaccounted for; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that mining accidents account for 10% of workplace accidents in Turkey, which is higher than death rates for miners in China; if he will address at European level the questionable privatisation policies of resource industries in Turkey and the shortfall in investment in maintaining work safety in privatised mines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/14]

Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan

My question relates to the most recent mining accident in Turkey which was the latest in a series of mining accidents in the country; the nature of the engagement of the Government; and whether there will be engagement on its part at the International Labour Organization conference in June.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Paschal Donohoe)

The Soma mining disaster which claimed 301 lives was the worst mining accident in Turkish history. The Tánaiste has written to the Turkish Government to convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Health and safety standards in Turkey's mines are an issue which the European Union has consistently raised with the Turkish authorities. Ireland joined a number of other member states in requesting that the issue be raised once again at the forthcoming meeting of the EU-Turkey association committee, which is scheduled to take place on 3 June in Brussels. At this meeting the European Union will stress the need for Turkey to make progress in meeting EU standards and the standards of the International Labour Organization, ILO. The Union will stress that progress on this issue remains essential in the interests of Turkish workers and society.

Since 2002 the European Union has allocated €21 million to support the improvement of occupational health and safety standards in Turkey. This funding has been used, for example, to support the work of health and safety inspectors, provide training for them and set up laboratories for testing workplace standards. The European Union has focused, in particular, on standards in the mining sector, providing training and expertise for occupational health and safety inspectors.

Ireland remains a supporter of Turkey's EU accession process through which the European Union assists Turkey in meeting EU standards and laws in preparation for eventual membership. During our EU Presidency last year we succeeded in securing agreement on the opening of a new chapter in the negotiations. This was the first chapter to be opened in three years.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

We hope this momentum can be maintained and that new chapters opened for negotiation in the future. In particular, we hope we can open negotiations on the issues of health and safety standards, which would be dealt with through chapter 19 on social policy and employment. At the association committee's meeting on 3 June the European Union will once again call on Turkey to take the necessary steps in order that we can start negotiations on these important questions.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan

There have been quite a number of serious mining accidents in Turkey. Since 1983 there have been 600 accidents. In the past 73 years there have been over 3,000. Everybody is entitled to safe working conditions and anyone going out to work should have an expectation that he or she will go home that night, but Turkey's record has been appalling. There are many positives in the Minister of State's answer, but much will hinge on the ILO conference in June. I hope our Government representatives will press the Turkish Government to ratify the ILO convention and implement it within its national legislation. This is part of the larger issue of decent working conditions. We saw the appalling accident in Bangladesh, while peasant farmers growing food on their land are under threat from multinational companies and mining organisations. This is all part of the bigger picture. Workers' rights need to be recognised.

Deputy Paschal Donohoe

I agree entirely with the point made by the Deputy that anybody going to work should have the expectation that he or she will return home safely at the end of the day. I emphasise three points in response to her further question. One of the main items for negotiation in respect of Turkey's accession is chapter 19 which covers issues such as employment law and social policy. I emphasise that in the past few years well over €20 million has been spent and invested by the European Union in dealing with the issue of safety in the workplace and making sure people are properly trained and that the monitoring mechanisms in place are robust. I note the point made by the Deputy on the need for the standards laid down by the ILO to be met. We will emphasise this point at the EU-Turkey meeting that will take place in Brussels in June.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan

In June 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the guiding principles on business and human rights, implementing the United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy framework for business and human rights which was prepared by the UN special representative, Mr. John Ruggie. Ireland must be more proactive in respect of these principles and I hope this will be part of the continuing response from the Minister of State.

Deputy Paschal Donohoe

Again, I point to the fact that Ireland has been proactive in this area in the recent past. Chapter 19 which forms part of the accession process for Turkey and in which Ireland played a leading role through the Tánaiste during its EU Presidency refers employment law and social policy. As a member state, we have raised this issue and will raise it again at the meeting that will take place in June.