Seanad debates
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Adjournment Matters
Farm Safety
6:55 pm
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.
Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Senator noted he had tabled this motion long before the tragedy of the past week. I have just returned from the funeral in question. I believed it was my duty to attend, and not merely as a farmer and person involved in agriculture.
Most accidents of this kind that occurred during the past 12 months have been horrific and cruel; this was a silent one. We have talked about extending the time allowed for slurry spreading, and we have fought for this and that, but we never mentioned the dangers concerned. The funeral today had the strongest showing among all the funerals I have attended. It was a funeral in a different religious tradition but as it went on, and the longer it went on, the stronger people became in their voices and their singing and their support for the family. It was said of Graham, Noel and Nevin Spence that they "were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." Any person from a farming background would know what happened. They had no chance.
On my way in, I met a man called Sean Reid from Collon in County Louth who, as one involved in the Cookstown dairy service, had built a milking parlour for that family to accommodate 180 cows. I hope the Senator does not mind me talking about this for a minute, but in my view this is crucial. He said the Spence family were model farmers - everything on the farm was perfect and done right. This was the one thing that went wrong. It appears that earlier in the day the pit had been agitated and, because it was a calm day, the methane gas that had built up over the summer because of the bad weather remained inside the shed all day. It is a heavier gas than most and when the Spences went in, one by one they were suffocated. Coming back today I heard on the radio their sister and daughter Emma speak about her family - about her father and brothers, each in turn. I do not know how she was able to do it but it is something that everybody in this end of the country should listen to at some stage. It was a fantastic speech by a person who has lost so much.
This subject has not been mentioned in the past 12 months, either in Northern Ireland or in the South. There have been conferences; I have been at them. This kind of accident happens every two or three years but we never mention it. It is our loss and our mistake. Whether North or South, all the dangers of farming are not laid out. We can have all the seminars and do all we like but there is no better way than speaking on the radio. As a Government, we have a responsibility, as do the farming organisations. Anything to do with farming can be lethal - it all depends on how one treats it.
It was a sad day, yet the people at that service celebrated the lives of those three men. There was a complete family wipe-out. There are 180 cows; they can be dried up and that will suffice. A whole farming community and entire farm is involved. Mr. Spence started with three cows but now there is nobody left to perform the necessary duties. I like to think we all pay our respects to the family. It is appropriate on the day that Senator Conway has raised this matter.
As I see it, we are all late on this question and must take much responsibility for that. There are issues concerning dry shafts, or PTO shafts, which is serious matter. Farmers give out about inspections but if one saves a life, one saves a life. This kind of incident must be shown in posters on walls. Somebody must come up with a system for it. A person who does not know about this can walk into death.
Senator Conway is on the relevant committee. Rather than talking about it, I ask him to raise the matter there. As one who was involved in road safety issues, I know the incident that happened last weekend is of a type that we had all forgotten about, even though it has happened in many places.
I will not read out my script. I have had my fill.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I echo all the sentiments expressed by the Minister of State. Let us hope some good will come out of what was an unspeakable tragedy. I heard some of the comments made by Emma Spence on the radio and they were powerful. It is a lesson for all, and it would be a worthwhile endeavour for every citizen to listen to those powerful words. I respect the fact that the Minister of State represented us with dignity at the funeral today.
Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Senator has the mantle now and he has our support. This is an issue we forgot about in regard to farm safety. It is our fault.