Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Chairman. I am delighted to engage with them and acknowledge the strides they have made in regard to health and safety in general. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 is already the law. This is an area in which we must tread carefully. I note from the document that derogations have been sought and agreed to.

The problem I have with that is that the law only stands for so long and then these derogations are slipped in or whatever. To follow on from what Deputy Fleming and others said, the agriculture sector in particular has been swamped with regulation. Recently, thanks to Ireland, people found out about the abuse going on outside the farm gate, in the context of horsemeat. We are regulated up to the eyeballs.

There is a huge debate taking place currently with regard to the shortage of gardaí. The figures I had two years ago indicated there was one agricultural inspector for every 40 farmers, but there is just one garda for every 400 people. That situation is worse now. I am not saying I am against inspection. I am all for health and safety. On behalf of the Agricultural Contractors of Ireland, of which I am a member, I want to acknowledge the engagement by Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport officials and health and safety officials who help and come to meetings to talk things through rather than carry on with a them and us or big brother attitude. It is important we engage and try to have a reasonable approach to safety.

I want clarification on the issue of tractors with a 40 kg box. Is it tractors above or below that which will be inspected? With regard to the reduction in the number of years before a car must go for its NCT, we all know, particularly elderly people, that we must have our vehicles taxed and ensured and I support that fully. However, vehicles should not be failed for simple defects. I agree they should fail for major failure of components such as the chassis, steering, brakes and so, but in different counties vehicles fail for simple or silly things, such as rubbers on doors and number plates. There seems to be no uniform across the board checking of these things. We do not need more regulation.