Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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623. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the body which has responsibility for the regulation of robotic milking machines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25880/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Robotic milking machines fall within the definition of a machine under Directive 2006/42/EC of 17 May 2006 on machinery. This Directive contains provisions  for the protection of persons and, in respect of machinery for foodstuffs,  contains provisions related to avoiding the risk of infection, sickness or  contagion.  The provisions of this Directive have been transposed into law by the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 407 of 2008) "The Machinery Regulations".

The Machinery Regulations provide that the Health and Safety Authority is the competent authority and this includes responsibility for market surveillance and the monitoring of all aspects of the process of making the products available on the market in Ireland. The Regulations also provide the competent authority with extensive enforcement powers and penalties to be imposed for any failures in compliance.