Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

11. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if employees of his Department have received Covid-19 vaccines due to their role in the Department; if so, the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2398/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government published the national COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy on 15^thDecember 2020. The Strategy outlines Ireland’s high-level plan for safe, effective and efficient vaccination on a phased basis across different categories of our population while safeguarding continued provision of health and social care services.

The Deputy will be aware that the first COVID-19 vaccines to be administered in Ireland commenced at the end of December 2020. The initial priority is focusing on those most at risk such as those in full-time residential care, people aged 70 and above, and to frontline medical personnel.

To date no member of staff in the Department or its Offices has received a vaccination specifically for the purpose of undertaking their official duties.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

12. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, has in risk assessing construction sites in advance of level 5 lockdowns; the monitoring of compliance with level 5 restrictions it conducts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2430/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Government Level 5 restrictions only construction sites considered essential are allowed to remain open. The limited list of essential construction sites that can remain open from 8 January is set out on www.gov.ie.

The Health and Safety Authority has no role in determining whether any business, including construction sites, is essential or not. However, inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority have continued, at the various levels of COVID-19 restrictions, to carry out inspections of individual construction sites to ensure that such sites are in compliance with the Work Safely Protocol and that COVID Response Plans are in place, as well as checking that compliance with existing statutory occupational safety and health regulations are being maintained.

The Health and Safety Authority will continue to act as the lead agency in relation to the assessment of compliance with the Work Safely Protocol in businesses which remain open at the various levels of restrictions. Up to 700 additional inspectors remain available to also carry out compliance inspections across various sectors of the economy.