Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the gentlemen for coming in today to discuss a very important issue. All of us here want the same thing, a reduction in fatalities and serious accidents on farms. The rate is unacceptably high at the moment. My community was affected by this when we lost a neighbour a little over a year ago in a freak accident. The impact on a community is phenomenal, and goes beyond the family.

We need to improve the statistics. They are disproportionate to the 6% of the workforce that is farming. There are very few other workplaces that people live in with their families. The farmhouse is in the centre of the yard and the farm. The farmer never leaves the workplace. That is a serious consideration. There are many attractions for children in a farmyard. It is seen as an exciting place to play. As a young lad I fell off the hayshed, playing on the bales when I was warned never to play on them. I put out three discs in my back and cracked a couple of ribs. I was lucky not to be killed. We have to challenge the attractions of the farmyard.

Why do the witnesses think last year’s figures were so high? Are we going through a bad spell or is there a particular reason? What will the HSA do differently this year to have an impact on that?

From a policy perspective, do the witnesses have suggestions and recommendations for us? The €12 million the Minister allocated for farm safety is very important. I agree with previous speakers that more carrot and less stick is the way to go - education and training is the ultimate way. Putting money into making our farmyards safer is crucial. That was a very important investment last year and I look forward to something similar in the future.

I ask the witnesses to expand on the new regulations that are under discussion relating to children in tractors. What do they involve? Where do they come from?