Results 41-60 of 13,494 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 May 2024)

David Stanton: 282. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in the State estimated to be suffering from long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19986/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Chairman. I welcome and thank Mr. O'Brien and his colleagues. I thank the HSA for the hugely important work done by its employees. Every day, week and year they save lives and prevent injuries, etc. As the chief executive said, we cannot forget there are families, children, etc., behind all the statistics. We all know of cases where people were injured or died in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Obviously the mindset has changed and there is encouragement to report danger or risk-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: -----at all levels. What is the current situation with regard to the practice of companies advertising the fact they have no workplace accidents or incidents and putting that information on a big sign? Is that still allowed? My concern is that such behaviour would discourage the reporting of risk, danger or small accidents, which could be detrimental in the long run.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: I am concerned because I have heard of some companies that have that practice and people are discouraged from reporting incidents and accidents as a result. I ask the HSA to look at the matter to see whether it can be further examined and to ask companies, or perhaps to look at legislation, to ban it. I understand the rationale behind the practice. It is flying a flag saying, "We are a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Are we talking about working in hospitals, clinics or generally speaking? Please give us more detail on the concerns that led to the establishment of the newest committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: The statement contains a reference to the farm safety partnership advisory committee. For some time, I have been interested in the issue of solar photovoltaic panels. Between 2020 and 2021 in the UK there was a 12% increase in the number of fire incidents relating to solar panel systems. In 2015 there was an influx of new suppliers there. They sold cheap products, made some money and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Does the HSA work with other agencies such as Safe Electric with respect to the safe installation of these panels? As I said, in the UK between 2020 and 2021, there was a huge increase in the number of fire incidents. I do not think we will be any different here because it is expanding at a massive rate, which is good. However, we need to ensure the people installing them on farms, homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Representatives from the SEAI recently appeared before the committee and we put similar questions to them. They informed me that they have two lists, one of the companies that install solar panels and the other one of the actual installers who are qualified. I mentioned to them that Safe Electric had a concern that if somebody was removed from the Safe Electric list, the SEAI might not know...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: If an organisation like Safe Electric comes across practices such as I have described, is it obliged to inform the HSA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Can we get a breakdown of the unfortunate fatalities and accidents that have occurred on farms? What areas are of most concern and most likely to lead to accident, injury and death?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Farmers very often work on their own. Is that an issue here? Is the huge stress and pressure on farms, especially at this time of year and earlier, a factor? I know the Minister has made changes on this. Many applications and reports have to be made by farmers at the busiest time of the year when they are involved in calving and everything else when they might be stressed out. Is the HSA...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: I thank Mr. O'Brien.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: It was mentioned at the start that the HSA is also involved in accreditation and market surveillance. Will the witnesses give the committee a brief idea of what is involved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Is Ms Mullooly speaking about the safety of the products that are coming in, for instance? Is that the issue there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Can I ask about accreditation as well? What is involved in that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Can Dr. Duff comment on any issues the HSA has discovered or concerns it may have with respect to the whole space of offshore - fishing and shipping? I refer to the fishing industry and the shipping industry itself. We are now looking at offshore wind farms, which are also being developed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: Mr. Cullen says the HSA assists Irish industry in bringing goods to market. He spoke of the UK's departure from the EU and the conflict in Ukraine. What is the HSA’s role there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Role and Operation of the Health and Safety Authority: Discussion (1 May 2024)

David Stanton: I have a final question. What is the HSA's annual budget?