Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will investigate a situation regarding a clause on an application form (details supplied). [1484/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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According to Statutory Instrument No. 168 of 1997: Labour Services Act 1987 — Apprenticeship Rules 1997, "A person entering employment as an Apprentice in a trade where it is deemed necessary by An Fóras, must pass a vision test approved by An Fóras". In accordance with this Statutory Instrument, FÁS have prescribed the Ishihara Colour Vision Test 24 Plate Edition as the minimum standard for health and safety reasons required for several trades. These include the following trades: Agricultural Mechanics, Aircraft Mechanics, Construction Plant Fitting, Electrical, Electrical Instrumentation, Electronic Security Systems, Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitting, Floor & Wall Tiling, Heavy Vehicle Mechanics, Instrumentation, Motor Mechanics, Painting & Decorating, Print Media, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning and Vehicle Body Repairs.

FÁS have informed me that they sought medical advice on the use of coloured filters to enable a person to pass a colour vision test. The medical advice stated that coloured filters are only effective while in use. A potential employee who can pass a colour vision test using such filters will be unable to distinguish between colours without the filters. The advice also stated that some tasks at work requiring good colour discrimination would not be possible even when filters are used, despite them enabling the person concerned to pass a colour vision test.

Such a candidate will therefore be unsuited for any occupations in which colour discrimination or recognition is important and will be dangerous in some occupations if the colour defect is moderate or severe. In addition, it cannot be assumed that the candidate will always use the colour filters when they are required at work, nor can it be assumed that the filters will always be effective when worn at work to discriminate colours. Therefore allowing a candidate to pass the colour vision test by using coloured filters poses an unacceptable health and safety risk.