Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am encouraged by the Minister's reply in relation to ETBs throughout the country rolling this programme out. I also acknowledge that he is prepared to meet representatives from the Irish Plant Contractors Association in his office. I am lucky to have someone in the business, unrelated to me, who was able to educate me on all of this. I am told we need to start opening courses for new machines in the industry that are not covered in construction regulations. These include 360 slew telehandlers, mini spider cranes, mobile elevated work platforms, MEWPs, and quad bikes. On the topic of quad bikes, the HSA has made it compulsory, from November onwards, for farmers to be trained to operate quad bikes. There have been too many sad accidents with quad bikes and that training will be very welcome. With all the modernisation of equipment, we need to bring all of those types of machines within the scope of training. That is what the industry is calling for. This is not Government coming down on the industry; it is industry saying it wants and needs this training. It is asking to meet people and saying it will be very willing to do these courses and put them in place.