Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The military authorities have advised me there was no delay in regard to the Air Corps response to the Health and Safety Authority report. On 21 October 2016, the HSA issued its report of inspection to the Air Corps. I am advised this was the only written report issued by the HSA on foot of three visits to Baldonnel during 2016. 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 Air Corps responded to the HSA on 20 December 2016 outlining its improvement plan and indicating its full commitment to implementing the improved safety measures that protect workers and ensure that risks are as low as reasonably practicable. As I outlined earlier, this plan will be implemented over eight phases.

As recognised in the HSA report of October 2016, the Air Corps had already commenced activities of improvement and was proactive in implementing change before, during and after the engagement with the HSA. The Air Corps was pursuing a review of the risk assessment of chemicals process commenced in quarter 2 of 2015, in respect of which process the HSA provided advice during its visits, and a new approach to chemical awareness training within the Air Corps commenced in quarter 1 of 2016.

With regard to personal protective equipment, the military authorities have confirmed that the Air Corps provides personal protective equipment to all workers in the Air Corps, and 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 improvement plan provides for further actions relating to risk assessments and training focused on personal protective equipment.

I 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 management and authorities.

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