Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Coughlan for his presentation and wish him well in his position. I have a particular interest in this matter, as it was prominent in my role as a trade union official. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts of the 1990s were some of the best legislation ever passed, but the problem then seemed to be that people could have the best legislation possible just so long as there were no inspections. In my years there, the number of inspections was insufficient to meet the level of need. It is unfair to ask this of Mr. Coughlan before he starts, but what are his views on the resource issue as it affects inspections? What assurance can he give us of a substantial increase in resources?