Address by the Minister for Labour Affairs Mr. Tom Kitt T.D., at the Construction Safety Partnership Plan Launch of the Safety Representatives Facilitation Pilot Project and Presentation of Safety Representatives Certificates to the Students of the First Joint ICTU/CIF Course

Since taking responsibility for the workplace health and safety portfolio I have attended very many health and safety events - and indeed this is my second one today. However, I have to say that I take a particular pleasure in being here this afternoon as the launch of this pilot project represents the fruits of many behind the scenes labours by very many people.

Health and safety standards in the construction sector have been the focus of much attention and indeed, at times, dissension, over the last few years and it is true to say that the accident and fatality rates in that sector have remained stubbornly high. Many different approaches will have been suggested from many different quarters as to how best to remedy the problem. But what the establishment of the Construction Safety Partnership, the development of the Construction Safety Partnership Plan and the launch of this Pilot Project here today proves, is that no single remedy from one single quarter was going to work in isolation. It is not co-incidental or accidental that all the relevant players i.e. representatives of the State, the employers and the workers are actively involved in the Construction Safety Partnership and it is for that very reason that we have actually reached this stage.

The Construction Safety Partnership Plan, which was launched in February, and which many of you will be familiar with, sets out the conclusions and recommendations of the Construction Safety Partnership.

The main elements of the Plan cover:

• Safety Consultation
• Initiation of a joint CIF/ICTU Safety Representatives Pilot Project
• Safety Training
• Safety Management Systems
• Actions by the Health and Safety Authority

At the time of the launch, many hopes would have been expressed that the commitment, motivation and input which led to the development of the Plan would be maintained, and indeed there may have been some cynicism as to whether it could be maintained and translated into visible progress. As far as I am concerned, the launch of this Pilot Project here today is visible progress, and I would not underestimate the value of having a separate and identifiable logo and image for the Project which means that it is not subsumed into any one particular grouping. And to the cynics amongst us who might say that it is all image, I would ask you to remember that this time last year a launch such as this would have been unimaginable.

Having said that, I think that we all know there is still a lot more to be done at site level to begin to make a real dent in the accident and fatality figures, and if some healthy cynicism and justified criticisms will help to keep us all on our toes then I welcome it.

At the launch of the Construction Safety Partnership Plan in February, I said that the hard work was not all behind us, and that in developing the Plan, genuine partnership had been given a head-start. I asked at that stage that all parties concerned retain that spirit of partnership, co-operation and commitment while implementing the Plan. I think that that requirement still holds true.

We are all aware of the economic importance of construction industry. The Irish Construction Industry, and its workforce, is one of the largest industrial sectors in the country, contributing significantly to the national economy. It is critical to future prosperity and success, and to the improvement of our economic and social infrastructure. It is also one of our largest employers and therefore it behoves the industry to set a positive example in providing the highest of health and safety standards. I had the pleasure of launching the Health and Safety Authority’s Major Awareness Initiative this morning and this initiative will focus primarily on the sectors of farming and construction. The need for such an Initiative emphasises to us that, despite the advances made to date, the workplace health and safety message still needs to get into the mindset of every employer and worker in this country.

I want to thank in particular the ICTU and CIF nominated Safety Representative Facilitators, Andrew McGuinness and Raymond Brett, for their hard work and commitment to the project and for epitomising the spirit of partnership. I am very pleased to now officially launch the Safety Representatives Facilitation Pilot Project. I also would like to commend the first 12 participants in the joint ICTU/CIF Safety Representative Course. I sincerely hope that you will be the first of many participants.