Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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50. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific role the Health and Safety Authority will play in relation to indoor hospitality in respect of enforcement of the regulations on entry to such facilities and in ensuring that the workplace conditions are safe for staff; the additional resources which have been provided for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41281/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Health (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2021 provides for the lawful operation of certain indoor premises subject to conditions including the provision of a robust and enforceable system of verification of the vaccination or COVID-19 recovery status of certain patrons. The Act also provides for “relevant bodies” to designate compliance officers. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has been named as one of the relevant bodies under the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021, the other being the Health Service Executive.

The HSA will utilise its existing cohort of inspectors to carry out its role under the Health (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2021. The main role of the compliance officer will be to establish that the operator of an indoor premises covered by the Act has complied with the necessary conditions concerning entry to indoor hospitality.

Fáilte Ireland has produced detailed updated guidelines for the tourism and hospitality sector to coincide with the re-opening of indoor hospitality and has also developed support materials for hospitality businesses to communicate with their customers, which are available on their website. In addition, Fáilte Ireland continues to operate its COVID safety charter. Businesses who sign up to this voluntary charter are subject to spot checks by Fáilte Ireland to confirm that the business is complying with all public health protocols and Government Guidelines and that all employees have undertaken infection prevention control training.

The HSA will, of course, continue to address all aspects of worker safety through the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as well as COVID-19 specific requirements under the Work Safely Protocol.

Sanction was recently given to the HSA for the recruitment of an additional 12 temporary clerical officers in the HSA Workplace Contact Unit. The Workplace Contact Unit has been to the forefront in dealing with complaints and queries from employees, employers as well as members of the public in relation to compliance with the public health measures set out in the Work Safely Protocol. The HSA is currently progressing a recruitment campaign to increase the number of staff in inspector roles, with additional inspectors having already joined the HSA in the last month.