Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

As someone who grew up on a farm, I know farmers take enormous risks with young children. Part of the problem arises because the residence and the workplace are together and children are close by. Inspections and enforcement are crucial roles for the State, but education and awareness are also vital. Often people take chances with children that they do not think about and, as a result, we have seen so many tragedies that could have been avoided.

There should also be more emphasis on health and safety clothing and equipment. People go out on tractors without head gear and do not wear protective clothing while using chemicals and other dangerous substances. The farming community must be involved to a greater extent in an awareness and education programme and that is what the Health and Safety Authority is trying to achieve. It is involved in the stick approach of enforcement and the carrot approach of encouraging people to change their behaviour.

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