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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Farm safety and environmental liability

Summary

James Bannon called for stronger incentives and legislation to reduce Ireland’s serious farm-accident rate and asked about the environmental liability Bill. The Taoiseach acknowledged the continuing tragedies, noted farming organisations’ safety guidance and said the Bill was separate from the farm-safety programme.

The issue of farm safety must be tackled by necessary incentives and legislation because if countries such as Denmark can record zero fatalities from farm accidents, it is clear that Ireland's approach to farm safety and health is not working. When is the environmental liability Bill expected to be brought forward? Perhaps this legislation might go some way towards addressing the issue because there was a feature on the "Late Late Show" broadcast last weekend in which the catastrophe for several families because of farm accidents could be seen. It is still a very serious problem in Ireland.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The Minister of State may wish to make a comment on this matter.

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Tom Hayes Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Fine Gael

Yes, this is a serious concern for many people right across the-----

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This is completely out of order.

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Will he answer a question from me?

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

No, this is not-----

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It is out of order.

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Is this the Taoiseach's appointed successor?

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The Taoiseach cannot play fast and loose with the Order of Business.

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Deputy Mattie McGrath is getting worried now.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The environmental liability Bill is not part of the farm safety programme, but I take the point raised by Deputy James Bannon. It is a personal tragedy in a number of cases in which accidents have happened and, unfortunately, continue to happen. I note that the farming organisations have been clear about having guidelines for farmers, particularly when working alone in paddocks or on farmyards where, unfortunately, these accidents happen on an all-too-frequent basis.

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