252. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the Health and Safety Authority received a notification of, or carried out an inspection or investigation into, an incident in June 2020 in which a member of An Garda Síochána was injured on duty outside an embassy in Dublin by the discharge of a firearm; and whether the authority has engaged with An Garda Síochána on the safety of issue holsters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75255/26]

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for ensuring workers and those affected by a work activity are protected from work related injury and ill health. This responsibility arises from the functions of the Authority as set out in the occupational Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) carries out its statutory functions including investigations, completely independently of the Minister. The Minister has no role or influence in any investigation being carried out and does not interfere in any way.

Officials in my Department contacted the HSA regarding this particular matter and it advised that under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2016 all employers and self-employed persons are legally obliged to report the injury of an employee as a result of an accident while at work. Injuries must be reported if an employee is unable to carry out their normal work for more than three consecutive days, excluding the day of the accident.

The HSA is prohibited from disclosing any information on individual employers and therefore cannot comment on this particular matter.