Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber this afternoon. On a personal level, I am delighted to second the Farm Safety Agency Bill 2018 put forward today by my colleague, Senator Paul Daly. At this point I wish to compliment Senator Daly on bringing forward this important legislation. I wish to compliment him on the many long hours and days he has put in to bringing this critical legislation to the House this afternoon.

We all know that the farm is potentially a dangerous place to work. Unfortunately, the statistics available to us highlight this fact. During the past ten years, on average, Irish farms account for more than 40% of all workplace fatalities. Like Senator Paul Daly, I wish to acknowledge that good work is being done by many groups on the farm safety issue. However, the statistics show that something different needs to be done and that a new approach needs to be taken. The contents of the Bill put forward by my colleague clearly give good guidelines and direction to what needs to be done to reduce the fatalities on a farm.

We all know farmers work long hours. It is certainly not a nine-to-five, Monday to Friday occupation. Many farmers spend much of that time working on their own. As we know many dangers arise in working on Irish farms, whether those related to machinery, working livestock or chemicals of one kind or another.

When any fatality occurs it is heartbreaking for those involved but when a fatality occurs on a farm it is equally or even more heartbreaking. Unfortunately, the statistics show, more often than not, that the victim is a child of a farmer or someone connected with that family. As we know, when it happens on a farm there is a permanent reminder. Every day the farmer goes out to work there will be a permanent reminder of what happened and when and where it happened. That will stay with such farmers for the remainder of their lives.

Clearly, something needs to be done and a new direction needs to be taken. I believe the Bill put forward by my colleague, Senator Paul Daly, clearly gives some direction to what needs to be done. The bringing together of all the different agencies currently doing good work in this area would give them more focus and direction. It is to be welcomed.

Since I come from a farm background, I understand what it is like to work on a farm. Unfortunately, as Senator Paul Daly outlined this afternoon, the statistics show there are many dangers, as I outlined earlier, on Irish farms. In light of that fact, I spoke earlier this morning on a survey conducted recently by the HSE in respect of farming and farming practices. The survey came away with the conclusion that farmers are more at risk than any other occupation from mental health issues and physical health issues as well because of the time they spend on their own and the social isolation many of them go through.

I am delighted and honoured to be associated with this legislation. I compliment my colleague, Senator Daly, on bringing this forward.

Any work that can be done, the result of which might reduce a single farm fatality, has to be worthwhile. I hope all Members will embrace this legislation as a genuine attempt by my colleague, Senator Daly, to address this heart-breaking issue for many farm families.