Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this issue and this is not the first time we have discussed it because it is a continuing source of real concern. Farming remains the most dangerous occupation in Ireland. Last year saw a total of 22 farm-related fatalities and 6,673 reported non-fatal injuries. These injuries and fatalities are caused in a number of ways in particular with the use of farm machinery such as tractors and as a result of dealing with livestock.

While the Health and Safety Authority has primary responsibility for securing health and safety at work, particularly from an enforcement point of view, everyone has a responsibility to do what they can to improve the situation. My Department is represented on the farm safety partnership advisory committee which is a sub-committee of the Health and Safety Authority. The committee advises the board on the direction the HSA should take with regard to farm safety. My Department is very strongly committed to promoting farm safety in collaboration with the Health and Safety Authority and I have spoken at a number of its conferences. The Department has taken a number of steps over the past year in tandem with some of the other State and industry organisations to both raise awareness of the problem and to educate farmers and their families on the realities and the dangers of working in this industry.

The latest measure was to send a farm safety message to over 130,000 farmers. This was included in the single payment scheme application pack this year which means that every farmer received a reminder of the importance of farming safely. This is a joint initiative between the Department, the Health and Safety Authority and the farm safety partnership committee.

My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, recently launched the farm and countryside safety project, which is located in the family farm at Dublin Zoo. It is supported by Agri Aware in conjunction with FBD Insurance, the IFA and ESB Networks. This programme will help to educate children about farm safety, as they comprise one of the groups most at risk on farms today. The project will culminate with the production of a 2013 calendar featuring selected images of safety messages drawn or painted by children. The calendar will be sent to all primary schools in the country.

Other actions by my Department include the provision to all farms of a code of practice aimed at reducing farm accidents; the inclusion of health and safety guidelines in all building specifications drawn up by my Department; the inclusion of farm safety in all REPS training courses; a dedicated area on the Department's website outlining the requirements on farm safety and practical advice on safety on farms. My Department has asked Teagasc to include a farm safety element in the dairy discussion groups participating in the Dairy Efficiency Programme 2010-2012 and the Department issues regular press releases.

Our actions to date are not enough because there are still far too many accidents and tragedies on farms which have destroyed families. We need to change the mindset of farm families as regards the operation of their farms and machinery and the management of livestock. There has been in some cases a careless attitude towards safety which at times has tragic consequences. Farming will always be a dangerous occupation, as is fishing. We have an obligation to reduce the likelihood of serious accidents and fatalities by constantly reminding farming people of the dangers.

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