Mr. Tom Coughlan:

I thank the Chairman and the other members of the joint committee for giving me this opportunity to address the committee. It is a privilege and an honour for me to be here as chairperson-designate of the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. I welcome the invitation because my appointment as chairperson would give me an opportunity to continue to make a high-level contribution to the public sector and to use the skills and experience I have gained during 40 years of public service in local government.

I understand it is customary on these occasions to give some personal background information. I am from Mulranny in west Mayo. I am married to Ruth and we have two sons. We have lived in Ennis for 22 years, having relocated from Galway in 1995. I commenced my career in local government as a temporary clerical officer. Having served at all administrative and managerial levels, I was appointed as chief executive of Clare County Council in 2009. As chief executive of a large local authority, I gained extensive senior-level practical experience in developing and implementing strategy, change management and partnership and stakeholder engagement and significant experience of governance at executive and political levels. I possess State board experience, having been appointed to the board of the Shannon Airport Authority in May 2013. I was subsequently appointed to the board of Shannon Group plc on its incorporation in August 2014. I continue to serve as a non-executive director of the group.

When I applied to the Public Appointments Service to be considered for the position of chairperson of the HSA, I considered that I met the requirements of the person specification as advertised. I applied for the position on the basis of my genuine belief in the importance of the role and objectives of the HSA. The principal objectives of the HSA are to ensure workers in Ireland, and people affected by work, return home safely to their families and everyone is protected from the harmful effects of chemicals. As the former chief executive of a multifunctional authority which employed over 1,000 indoor and outdoor, technical and administrative workers, I appreciate the importance of achieving such objectives. Responsibility for occupational safety and health and chemicals policy has been formally delegated to the Minister of State with responsibility for employment and small business, Deputy Breen. I understand the Minister of State met members of the board of the HSA in recent months and has been closely involved in promoting a range of safety initiatives targeted at high-risk sectors. I expect to meet the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, very soon.

Like many public bodies, the HSA has seen a reduction in its financial and human resources over the past eight years. Specialist technical expertise levels are less than those required. It is important for the HSA to be empowered to rebuild its capacity and capability. I welcome the increase provided in the HSA's 2017 budget for extra payroll funding. I welcome the non-pay funding that has been allocated specifically for Brexit-related purposes. It is unlikely that Brexit will have any medium-term impact on the regulation of occupational safety and health at EU level or in Ireland. However, potentially significant impacts may arise with regard to chemical regulations and aspects of chemicals policy which are essential to the continued operation of many Irish and foreign direct investment enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the economy. They need simple tools and guidance to help them to manage workplace safety and health. In recent years, the HSA has invested significant resources to enable enterprises to achieve compliance in the simplest and most cost-effective manner. A culture of health and safety compliance contributes positively towards national competitiveness by reducing the costs of workplace injury and illness. Balanced and proportionate regulation acts as an aid to ensuring there is an even playing field in competitive areas.

The HSA's strategy for the period from 2016 to 2018 refers specifically to work-related health and the promotion of well-being and positive mental health. The HSA is working with the Department of Health and other bodies to ensure workplaces in Ireland protect the health and well-being of employees and, furthermore, encourage people to improve their own health and well-being. Sadly, there were 45 work-related deaths in 2016. The highest number of fatalities - 21 - was in the agriculture sector. As I come from a rural background in the west of Ireland, I appreciate the impact of farm fatalities on communities and accept that agriculture is a major challenge for the HSA. I understand the HSA, in conjunction with the farm safety partnership advisory committee, has sought to broaden the type of contact the HSA has with farmers and to find the most effective means of spreading the message of prevention within the farming community. The upturn in the construction sector will also pose a continuing challenge.

I understand that the HSA plans to increase the level of construction inspections based on the risk profile of the sector in its 2017 work programme.

The HSA's remit is broad, spanning more than 200 Acts, regulations and conventions. The authority seeks legal compliance through motivating, influencing, promotion, information, education, inspection and enforcement. Its vision is "healthy, safe and productive lives". Achieving that vision, particularly in the context of such a broad remit, is a significant challenge. I trust that committee members will appreciate that I have not as yet attended a board meeting of the HSA or had the opportunity to explore in depth the issues relating to the authority. However, on the basis of the briefings that I have received to date, I am fortunate that the most recent chairman, Mr. Michael Horgan, and his board, the previous chairpersons and boards, the chief executive and his team have established and maintained an organisation that is capable of achieving that vision. I look forward to chairing the board of the authority and playing my part in achieving that vision so as to ensure that workers return home safely to their families.

I thank the committee for the opportunity to meet it today.