Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We are all glad to be here today. This is a very serious matter. As the witnesses are aware, we have had more than our share of farm accidents, including machinery accidents, in the recent past. It has been happening around me for the past 40 years. A local man lost his arm in a driveshaft. He was lucky enough and worked all his life afterwards. Another neighbour was mangled by the same thing. I have had accidents and close calls involving machinery and animals for more than 40 years. Our discussion today is crucial to highlight the dangers.

I am very agitated about handbrakes. People should ensure they have a working handbrake on a tractor or other vehicle and ensure they pull it correctly. I ended up with the front wheel of a four-wheel-drive tractor going over both my legs and resting on my hip. On the first night of Covid I was in CUH. Luckily nothing was broken, and I appeared here afterwards as normal. I was fairly sore but I was lucky.

That is one thing. The power drives is the other thing, to ensure that you do not have loose clothes or that you are in a hurry around the unit, and to shut it off when you come off the seat of the tractor.