Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 637: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to make regulations under Section 37 of the Fire Services Act 1981 to put the Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Assembly on a statutory footing in line with a commitment given in 1989; if he will extend the provisions to cover all work places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30727/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Code of Practice for the Management of Fire Safety in Places of Assembly is intended to provide guidance to persons in control of places of assembly in discharging their statutory obligations under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Act 1981. This Code, one of a series of Codes, was given statutory underpinning by section 31 of the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003.

In addition to giving a statutory footing to the Code of Practice, the inspection powers of fire officers have been substantially strengthened under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, and fire officers can require fire safety assessments and specify works to be carried out within a period of time by persons in control of a premises. Fire officers may also provide advice, warnings and recommendations in both oral and written format. Fire officers can close a premises on the spot when they consider that it poses a serious or immediate risk to the safety of persons. The enforcement, prosecution and penalty provisions of the Acts have been updated and brought into line with modern legislative codes. I am satisfied that they provide adequately for the protection of persons in such premises from the dangers of fire and there are no proposals for regulations under Section 37 at present.

Under Part 3 of the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003 the issue of workplace fire safety has been addressed by the inclusion of "any workplace" as a premises to which the provisions of section 18 of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 apply.