Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the complement of labour inspectors will be sufficient to ensure compliance with the legal duty on employers prescribed in the new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, in addition to the range of duties already undertaken by the labour inspectorate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4085/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Health and Safety Authority, the body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health, is responsible for the implementation of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This legislation deals with occupational safety, health and welfare.

The authority has 164 staff involved in inspection, investigation and enforcement of health and safety legislation and it works to an ambitious planned work programme. For 2006 the authority has a budget of €20.598 million and in the context of the overall allocation of resources I am confident the authority can achieve the objectives in its programme.

The labour inspectorate of the Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland. Inspectors pursue allegations of worker mistreatment and when evidence of non-compliance with the relevant employment rights legislation is found, the inspectorate seeks redress for the individuals concerned and, if appropriate, a prosecution is initiated.

There are 31 inspectors working in the labour inspectorate. This represents almost a doubling of inspector personnel in the past 18 months and is indicative of a determination to ensure compliance with employment rights legislation.