Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I agree with Deputy Howlin. We live in an era of such political correctness, definitions and interpretations that a full-time judge would be required to determine what is meant by certain proposed and existing legislation. There is a grave danger that some of the improvements deemed necessary will not improve things. They may in fact become a burden. The points made by Deputy Howlin are accurate and relevant in this sense. There is nothing more to be gained by adding another layer of bureaucracy on top of several existing layers.

Surely the purpose of the exercise is to ensure that health and safety procedures are applied and enforced. However, there will always be situations for which one cannot legislate in every circumstance. Parliamentary Counsel will say they must cover every situation in so far as it is possible and that may be the case. However, a realistic appraisal of a situation must be undertaken before one can reasonably argue one way or another. The extension of bureaucracy into every conceivable area is not in the interests of health and safety and every circumstance cannot be covered.

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