Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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192. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the requirements that currently exist with respect to employers providing insurance for workers on their premises; if these requirements are legally binding or voluntary; and the legal or policy basis of these requirements. [17315/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Ireland has a robust body of employment law, encompassing a comprehensive range of employment rights together with both civil and criminal remedies to ensure that individuals can vindicate their rights. This body of law is underpinned by a proactive labour inspectorate. Further, the Workplace Relations Bill 2014, when enacted, will deliver a significantly streamlined workplace relations service which will provide for more effective and efficient means of redress and enforcement within a reasonable period for all users of the service.

There is no provision under employment law that requires employers to provide insurance for workers on their premises. However, employers are required to make social insurance contributions on behalf of employees under the social welfare system. I do not have policy responsibility for public liability insurance.

As regards occupational health and safety legislation, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to ensure that working conditions are such as will protect the safety, health and welfare at work of employees. It also requires employers to manage their business in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that individuals at the place of work who are not employees, are not exposed to risks to their safety, health or welfare.