Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As the House will be aware, this issue is being dealt with in another forum by the Law Reform Commission which has already reported on it and which is in the process of preparing another report. I understand the commission held a public seminar in late 2004 and that its further report is awaited and may be completed before the end of the year. In the absence of a definitive position from the Law Reform Commission adopted by Government, it would be premature to accept Deputy Howlin's amendment to this legislation. I believe the impact of the Law Reform Commission report will be felt across a range of people and issues.

I agree with Deputy Howlin with regard to the 40% increase in fatalities in the workplace in the earlier part of this year. Heretofore there had been an encouraging decrease in the numbers killed. The figures for the earlier part of this year are very worrying.

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