David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

744. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason Ireland failed to ratify ILO Convention 129 on Labour Inspections in Agriculture (1969); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36502/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Convention 129 on Labour Inspection in Agriculture was not ratified at the time of its adoption by the ILO International Labour Conference in 1969 as the view was taken that it would require the establishment of a single labour inspectorate for agriculture to include Occupational Safety and Health.  This would have required significant changes to the existing administrative structures.  As part of the ILO’s Centenary Ratification Campaign, Convention 129 is being examined this year with a view to establishing whether Ireland may be in a position to ratify it.  The review of Convention 129 is being done in line with our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments.  Ireland does not ratify international conventions until any necessary amendments to domestic legislation have been identified and effected.  If, following the review of the Convention, it is decided that Ireland is in a position to ratify it a stakeholder consultation will take place.

In the interim, it is important to note that the remit of both the WRC, and its predecessors, and the HSA extends to all sectors, including agriculture.