Ms Maeve McElwee:

It would take up a huge amount of resources. It is reasonable that a very strong business case is set out and a reasoned response given. In relation to on-site inspections, it is really important to state that there are challenges for employers that we would love to see more clarity from the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, on this point. There will be people working alone in their homes. Sending in inspectors to identify risks and any of the normal ergonomic considerations that employers are obliged to undertake is quite challenging. Issues include the cost and the geographic distances that may have to be covered. There is also the reality of people working alone and having strangers moving around their homes, which throws up lots of other considerations for employers. Briefly, on the last issue raised by the Deputy on the two processes ongoing, we think that it does appear that there are two processes ongoing.

We would prefer to see that any policy would have a reasonable timeframe in which an appeal should be heard after which point, consistent with all other pieces of legislation, an external appeal could go forward as opposed to two weeks into an internal appeal process that may well resolve the issue.