Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I tabled this Adjournment matter before the unfortunate and tragic events in Hillsborough at the weekend. I wrote it and was ready to submit it before the previous term ended. We often get bulletins and updates from different farming organisations, as I am sure the Minister of State did when he was a Deputy. I went through one of these bulletins one night in my office and saw that farm accidents had increased by up to 35%, with the number of fatalities on farms also increasing. That, coupled with an accident that had occurred in County Clare the previous week, prompted me to table this motion in order to give the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, an opportunity to outline what the Government has been doing and its plan or strategy in the matter. Given the events of the weekend the subject has now become focused. On my behalf and that of all Members I wish to express my sympathy to the Spence family. It is unbearable and unthinkable that three members of the one family lost their lives.

We have a responsibility and a role to play in heightening awareness. Similarly, farm organisations have an important role to play, as do schools and the education system. I would like to see a working group set up between the Minister of State's Department and the Department of Education and Skills to roll out a one-day awareness campaign in all primary and secondary schools in farming communities throughout the country. We may have a chance of improving awareness among children, who in turn may have an influence on their parents. Unfortunately, we are all guilty of bad habits which develop over a lifetime of working. Perhaps young people have some chance of influencing their parents in terms of improving standards and eliminating bad and dangerous habits.

The Minister of State may not have reflected on this suggestion, but perhaps an interdepartmental working group could be set up, in association with the farming organisations, to try to reverse this trend. Any loss of life is unacceptable and no life should be lost unnecessarily.