Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that is being made in relation to legislation or regulation to give workers the right to clean air at the workplace. [25232/22]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the progress made in enacting the workplace ventilation Bill and its provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25209/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 82 together.

AsI outlined in my speech to the Dáil during the Second Stage Debate on the Private Members Bill, the Workplace Ventilation (COVID-19) Bill 2021, there were certain legal and practical aspects to the Bill that required more detailed consideration. I asked the Health and Safety Authority, under section 57 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to formally review the existing provisions on workplace ventilation in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 and to establish what further measures could be considered in relation to workplace air quality. I also asked the Authority to take into consideration the measures that other European Countries have put in place in relation to the use of CO2 monitors in workplaces.

The Health and Safety Authority recently forwarded this comprehensive review and I, and my officials, are examining the various options considered.

I can assure the Deputy that the outcome will achieve the objectives of the Workplace Ventilation (COVID-19) Bill 2021 and will establish a mechanism for workplace indoor air quality standards that can be updated speedily as required and will also incorporate the full enforcement powers of the Health and Safety Authority.

I would add that the existing General Application Regulations create a requirement on employers to make sure that there is an adequate supply of ventilation in enclosed areas of the workplace and the evaluation of ventilation should already form part of an overall workplace risk assessment. Also, the Health and Safety Authority already has enforcement powers to seek improvement in ventilation in workplaces.

However, it is clear that there is scope to strengthen current approaches on foot of learnings from COVID-19 and to bring about wider positive benefits for health and wellbeing beyond the COVID-19 experience.