Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) - Ireland (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee requests the Government to take due account of the Convention in the context of the framing of the new consolidated Mining Regulations and to provide information on progress in this respect.

Article 3. Policy on safety and health in mines. The Committee notes the Government’s stated intention to rationalize, consolidate and simplify its national legislation governing its quarries and underground mining activities by taking account of technical, economic and legislative changes and that the 2008 Quarries Regulations were drawn up by the HSA in consultation with the Quarries Sector Health and Safety Steering Committee involving all the major players and included public consultation. As previously noted, this legislation is based on a preventive approach placing duties on all persons involved in the place of work and allowing for fines of up to €3 million and/or imprisonment for two years. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any further developments regarding its national policy on safety and health in mines in the context of periodical reviews undertaken thereof.

Article 4(2). Codes of practice. The Committee notes the considerations favouring the development of the specific and targeted code of practice for Operators of Quarry Delivery Vehicles (employing three or less employees), which reportedly is in the final stages of its preparation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on progress as regards the adoption of this as well as other relevant codes of practice.

Article 13(2)(c). Right of safety and health representatives to have recourse to independent experts. The Committee notes the information that while there is no specific legislative provision specifically granting safety representatives the right to have access to independent experts, there are no restrictions of exclusions. The Committee requests the Government to take all relevant measures to ensure compliance with this provision and to provide information on progress in this respect.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the application of this Convention in practice, including further details of any analyses carried out as to the most significant measures contributing to the downward trend in the accident and fatality levels in this sector.