Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many of the slurry facilities that were built the best part of 30 years ago are beginning to get old and the number of incidents that occur each year with slatted tanks is greater than we would like. A total of 16 farming deaths took place in 2013. They did not all involve slatted tanks and, thankfully, the number was lower than the previous two years, 21 and 22 respectively. There is insufficient knowledge and information as to what should happen if stock or even worse, a person, ends up in a slurry storage tank. It is a pretty horrific experience of which I have personal knowledge in that 13 animals went into tanks and I did not know what to do. I do not consider myself to have more or less knowledge than the average person in such circumstances but the reality is that such a situation is dangerous and there is no protocol. I would like to hear the Minister of State's view on same.