Seanad debates

Wednesday, 28 February 2007

 

Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme.

9:00 pm

Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me raise this important matter of the situation faced by a number of former miners in the Ballingarry, Thurles area. Ballingarry was the location for coal-mining for a good number of years. Coal-mining was a strong industry in this area until it ceased a number of years ago.

During the period when this group of miners were working in these mines the level of safety measures which are nowadays taken for granted did not apply. When one speaks to these men one sees evidence of the kind of conditions under which they worked. In some cases, explosions took place in the unvented underground mines in which they worked and carbon monoxide was not able to escape. In some cases, they worked in tunnels only 18 inches high.

Not surprisingly, as a result they have been left with significant and serious health problems some of which could be described as miner's lung, which usually incorporates conditions such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema which result in breathing difficulties. These are progressive diseases. Other conditions arising from these miners' experiences would include tinnitus, for instance, which is a degree of deafness, and numbness in the extremities including fingers.

I refer to a group of approximately ten men. They feel strongly that their pensions are entirely inadequate and, more importantly, do not recognise the level of disease and suffering from which they are suffering. Having met a number of the men involved, it seems extraordinary that it cannot be recognised that this is a group who deserve to be compensated for the progressive nature of their illnesses in some way for what remains, in some cases possibly a short period, of their lives.

A number of miners have died, some at a young age, as a result of the diseases which they contracted as a result of their work, and this is not being recognised. They have had a long, as yet unsuccessful, battle to be properly compensated for the illnesses from which they suffer.

One of the difficulties they face is that some of them were assessed a good number of years ago for the illness and injury suffered, but there is no possibility of them being reassessed despite the fact that theirs is a progressive illness account of which should be taken in what they receive.

These men feel strongly that they have been abandoned and also that they have been the subject of broken promises. They have been given the impression that there is compensation available to them and one of the matters on which I seek clarity is what is the Government's attitude to this group. The Taoiseach met the group only a short number of weeks ago in Killenaule when he was in this part of Tipperary.

I ask the Minister to clarify exactly the Government position on this matter. I particularly urge the Government to address the case of these miners and ensure they get what they need. Is the Government planning a compensation scheme? If not, why not? What is the Government's response to the claims of the miners? We are talking about a one-off set of circumstances faced by a small number of people and it should not be impossible, therefore, to acknowledge the problem and to deal with it. The men themselves feel very strongly that they made a great contribution to the economy, not only that of their area but also that of the country, at a time when conditions were very difficult. They rightly feel they are now living in a prosperous state and that it, therefore, would not be too much to ask that their suffering be recognised and that they receive compensation as a result.

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