Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the city and county managers, chief fire officers and assistant chief fire officers who have sought, through a change in the health and safety legislation, to get indemnity in the event of there being a fatality amongst the public or fire fighters; if he has been part of any discussions regarding this proposed indemnity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28790/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I have had no direct correspondence or representations from city and county managers, chief fire officers and assistant chief fire officer or representatives on their behalf about indemnifying staff. The issue of indemnifying members of Local Authority staff does not fall within my remit. Any such matter is for the Local Authority concerned and, from a Ministerial perspective, would fall within the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform may also have an interest in the issue of indemnities in the public sector. I understand that the Fire Services and the Health and Safety Authority have been in contact and that the Authority is finalising, for the guidance of the services, a Statement of Principles document on the Safety, Health and Welfare Duties of the Fire Services and that this work has been welcomed.