Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As an employer for many years, this legislation highlights how complacent we can become. Over the years, when one heard of many farmers killed in accidents, and of building site fatalities. one more or less thought it was part of the trade. We accepted that the building trade was dangerous. It is significant that we now have the Celtic tiger and the resources, and are thinking of health and safety at work. Sometimes it has taken European legislation to make us focus on the fact that we can make a difference.

I welcome the Bill. Prevention is better than cure, and the Bill is good for employers and employees. It strikes a balance. We recognise this Bill as a honest attempt to deal with the statistic which shows that in 2002, 61 people lost their lives in work-related accidents. Many people have been maimed when working in various industries. This legislation will be a help.

The main issue is resources. The Health and Safety Authority must have sufficient inspectors. We discovered with the Gama incident that there are not enough inspectors. There was a knee-jerk reaction to that. Sometimes I welcome such reactions. I often say that politicians do not act but react. We reacted to the serious situation of an alleged fraud against workers in Gama. Everybody has a knee-jerk reaction to loss of life or the maiming of people at work. Signs are immediately put up on the premises and helmets are worn, with people resolving to do better.

It is difficult to legislate for every eventuality and some jobs and professions are more dangerous than others. I have a newsagents shop, which is not a dangerous environment although machines must be cleaned and so forth.