Crane driver safety training
Deputy Mick Barry asked whether the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts would be amended to strengthen training requirements for crane drivers, arguing employers were pushing inadequate courses. After procedural interventions, the Taoiseach said no legislation was promised in this area and there was no programme commitment.
My question relates to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. In the words of Tom Parlon of the Construction Industry Federation:
Irish cranes are Mickey Mouse compared to New York or Dubai cranes. ... We have a maximum height of 12 or 15 storeys. It's not rocket science to drive a crane here.
Tom Parlon's view is typical of construction employers-----
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The Deputy should not be quoting people who are not in the House.
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----- whose real agenda is to maximise profits by cutting down on training time for crane drivers.
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It should be six months' training but workers are being put under pressure to do it after less than six days. This is a Mickey Mouse approach to health and safety. It is a key reason for the strike by crane drivers in recent weeks, a strike we fully support. Is the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation-----
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Does Deputy Barry want to build houses on that?
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-----prepared to amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts to strengthen the six-month rule?
