Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but I think the Deputy will understand that we have to confine our engagement to representative bodies in sectors. It is unusual enough for the Department to meet representative bodies in a sector for which it does not have direct policy responsibility. We are responsible for section 481 and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is responsible for many of the other policy issues with regard to the sector. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for many of the industrial relations issues the Deputy raised. However, because of the Department's interest in the film sector and in the different issues the Deputy raised, we will meet the representative bodies but we will confine our engagement to those bodies because that is the appropriate thing to do.

I am not dismissing the issues the Deputy has raised, and I never have dismissed them. As I said in my earlier response, if the Deputy raises an issue with me in the way he has, I accept he has enough evidence that he believes the issue is legitimate. I accept that. Equally, I am aware of the need to listen to those who have different views. That is a partial motivation for my interest in the different issues the Deputy has raised. At the same time, I do not believe that my view of a sector or an overall issue can be exclusively or largely determined by those who have the kind of negative and worrying views to which the Deputy refers. I hear views from other organisations within the sector that are not consistent with what the Deputy said. I hear the views of others who talk about progress being made and do not raise issues of the severity the Deputy does. I have to acknowledge that this morning. That said, it will not stop my Department meeting the organisations that differ from our assessment of how things stand because it is right and proper that should happen.

Returning to the workplace safety issues, Deputies have reminded me that it is the Health and Safety Authority that has responsibility for workplace safety. I referred to State bodies and the Deputies made clear which of them it is. The HSA is independent and I know it carries out and discharge its duties in an impartial manner and independent of the views of employers. It also has to assess whether the issues being raised with it justify further action or a response from the State.

I reiterate the point made by Deputy Matthews that anyone looking in on this meeting and those who are concerned about their safety need to be aware of the work the HSA can do and be confident that they can report issues to the HSA and they will be investigated in an impartial and thorough way. I do not want people working in any workplace funded under section 481 or any other public money to feel their workplace is unsafe. The Deputy is raising a very serious matter. I reiterate the competence and role of the HSA in it.

While we have spent some time on this section, it was appropriate that we did so. It is a significant use of taxpayers' money. We are talking about issues that are important in the sector. I believe progress has been made and that the overall balance in the sector is different from than described by the two Deputies. Equally, however, I accept that the issues they are raising are important and merit further work. That is why my Department will meet the other bodies and organisations that have been raising these issues in recent years and will continue to engage with them. We will monitor the hearings that are under way in the Committee on Budgetary Oversight to see if there are any new matters or further issues being raised that are relevant to the operation of section 481.