Speech by Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs. at the Official Opening of NISO Offices, Trident House, Main Street, Blackrock, on Friday, 29th September, 2000.

I am very pleased to be here today to officially open these fine new offices of the National Irish Safety Organisation.

The establishment of these offices represents a new and welcome chapter in NISO’s development. Having already had a significant presence in Dublin for many years, no one can doubt NISO’s commitment to worker safety. I believe that the diverse work programme of the Health and Safety Authority has always been well complemented by the activities of NISO, and I am certain that this latest development will increase the synergy between the two organisations.

As we all know, health and safety issues are not addressed simply by the introduction and enforcement of legislation but also by important ancillary activities. These new premises will allow NISO to provide a significantly expanded range of services and will greatly enhance its ability to meet the needs of its clients.

Foremost among the services offered by NISO is the provision of training to companies, employers’ organisations, trade unions, educational establishments and other interested bodies. These new offices will include a dedicated training facility which will allow NISO to build on the commitment to training which it has displayed over the years. Access to information is vital for all of our citizens and I am glad to see NISO working to improve this access through its new library service where interested parties will be able to access up-to-date safety materials, in paper or electronic format. This is an essential strand in the overall drive to improve the approach to workplace health and safety.

Today is an opportune time to mention another activity which, no doubt, will also make a special contribution in helping to inculcate a safety culture into all our workplaces. The NISO Annual Conference will take place on the 27th of October in the Corrib Great Southern Hotel in Galway. Under the banner "Health and Safety Challenges in a Changing World" , speakers will discuss a range of subjects from managing contractor interactions, to the Health and Safety implications of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for industrialists, trade union representatives, Government officials and health and safety specialists from all over Ireland to meet, discuss and drive forward, practical solutions to the health and safety issues raised. It will be preceded on the 26th by a workshop on the theme of Slips, Trips and Falls. The choice of theme is timely, since this year, all over Europe, health and safety organisations are promoting the prevention of back pain and musculoskeletal disorders.

The conference will, as in previous years, incorporate the presentation of awards to those who have excelled at translating the Health and Safety message into action. I am particularly thankful to NISO this year for facilitating the presentation at its Annual Conference of the new Millennium Awards which I recently developed. These awards will be presented to companies who have developed innovative and cost-effective solutions at workplace level with a view to reducing the risk of injury or ill-health.

Finally, I know that a move such as this has involved many months of preparation and pre-planning and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a few people, namely, Paul Kerrigan and Ted O’Keefe who, together with their colleagues, have made the move possible, and also to Mary Keane-Broderick who has taken over the mantle of President at this exciting time of change.

Thank you for your attention and may I wish all the NISO staff every success in their new offices.