Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 31 and 39 are being introduced in aid of the labour inspectors and will provide them with a statutory basis to use reasonable force where necessary in order to gain entry to premises connected with the employment of persons. In the majority of inspections, the employers consent to the inspections and inspectors are not required to use force to gain entry. However, the inspection of certain time-sensitive matters would, in the absence of the power to use reasonable force, be frustrated where the employer locked and-or abandoned the premises, for example.