Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The State Claims Agency is currently managing six claims taken between 2013 and 2016 by former and current members of the Air Corps against the Minister for Defence for personal injuries alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel in the period 1991 to 2006. As such my Department and the Defence Forces were aware of allegations relating to exposure to chemical and toxic substances in the Air Corps. Given my responsibilities and the fact that the Minister for Defence is the defendant in these claims, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment in relation to these cases whilst such litigation is ongoing.

Protected disclosures submitted in respect of health and safety issues in the Air Corps were received in November and December 2015 and January 2016.

I was made aware of these disclosures following my appointment in May 2016. As I have previously advised the House, I appointed an independent third party to review the matter in July 2016. Unfortunately, that individual was not subsequently in a position to proceed and he notified the Department of this in August 2016. I appointed another individual to review the matter in September 2016 and that process is at an advanced stage.

As the Deputy is aware, during 2016 the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, conducted inspections at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, on three occasions - 4 February 2016, 5 April 2016 and 28 September 2016.

On 21 October 2016, the HSA issued its report of inspection to the Air Corps. The report outlined a number of general improvements and recommendations and included the areas of risk assessment, health surveillance, monitoring of employees' actual exposure to particular hazardous substances, and the provision and use of personal protective equipment.

The health and safety report of October 2016 acknowledged that some or all of the advice items contained in that report may already have been receiving active consideration. The military authorities have advised me that the Air Corps were proactively engaged in mitigating health and safety risks in the Air Corps before, during and after the engagement with the HSA and were pursuing the development of a chemical register template commenced in quarter 2, 2015; a review of the risk assessment of chemicals process commenced in quarter 2, 2015 and the HSA provided advice on this process during their visits; and, a new approach to chemical awareness training within the Air Corps commenced in quarter 1, 2016.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

On 20 December 2016, a response from the Air Corps outlining its improvement plan was returned to the HSA. This confirmed the Air Corps' full commitment to implementing improved safety measures that protect workers and ensure risks are as low as reasonably practicable. This Air Corps plan will be implemented over eight phases. The first phase commenced in September 2016 with planned phased completion dates to December 2017. The military authorities have advised me that phases 1, 2 and 3 are now complete with phase 4 under way. I am also advised that seven out of the eight phases are planned to be completed by May 2017.

The military authorities have confirmed that the Air Corps provides personal protective equipment, PPE, to all workers in the Air Corps and that they are required to wear such equipment in the workplace when necessary. These requirements are set out in a range of military policy and practice documents. The Air Corps plan also provides for further actions relating to risk assessments and training focused on PPE.

I can assure the Deputy that the health and safety of the men and women of the Defence Forces is of the highest priority for me and for the military authorities. I am advised that all reports made to the military authorities are investigated and any recommendations arising are implemented as part of the continual review of their health and safety procedures.

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