Farm deaths account for 50% of workplace fatalities despite farmers only accounting for 5% of the workforce. \ Donal O' Leary
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Concerns over the cost to establish and run a proposed body which would deal exclusively with farm safety has been raised by the Minister responsible for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
The establishment of a Farm Safety Agency (FSA) modelled on the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been proposed by Fianna Fáil Senator Paul Daly.
Speaking in the Seanad on Wednesday 29 May he stated that farm deaths account for 50% of workplace fatalities despite farmers only accounting for 5% of the workforce and called for a specialised body.
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He stressed this would not be a brand new body but rather one within the HSA, preventing the formation of a “quango”. He said it was important that a farm safety body had statutory authority to create a link between the Department of Business and the Department of Agriculture.
Cost-benefit
Minister of State at the Department of Business Pat Breen, who has responsibility for the HSA, welcomed the discussion on farm safety but questioned the benefits of establishing a new body.
Minister Breen said the proposal should be subject to a cost-benefit analysis as there was already a state-funded body which had the proposed function of the FSA.
He said there was also a farm safety advisory committee in place which was made up of Government representatives and stakeholders from the agricultural sector.
Senator Daly said he was taken apart at the Minister’s response. He said the Minister was prioritising costs and money over saving lives.
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Concerns over the cost to establish and run a proposed body which would deal exclusively with farm safety has been raised by the Minister responsible for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
The establishment of a Farm Safety Agency (FSA) modelled on the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been proposed by Fianna Fáil Senator Paul Daly.
Speaking in the Seanad on Wednesday 29 May he stated that farm deaths account for 50% of workplace fatalities despite farmers only accounting for 5% of the workforce and called for a specialised body.
He stressed this would not be a brand new body but rather one within the HSA, preventing the formation of a “quango”. He said it was important that a farm safety body had statutory authority to create a link between the Department of Business and the Department of Agriculture.
Cost-benefit
Minister of State at the Department of Business Pat Breen, who has responsibility for the HSA, welcomed the discussion on farm safety but questioned the benefits of establishing a new body.
Minister Breen said the proposal should be subject to a cost-benefit analysis as there was already a state-funded body which had the proposed function of the FSA.
He said there was also a farm safety advisory committee in place which was made up of Government representatives and stakeholders from the agricultural sector.
Senator Daly said he was taken apart at the Minister’s response. He said the Minister was prioritising costs and money over saving lives.
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