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Orlaigh Quinn (Dept of Business) and Julie Sinnamon (Enterprise Ireland) entering Leinster House today. RollingNews.ie

Zero notices issued to employers following 800 back-to-work Covid-19 checks

Labour TD Ged Nash expressed concern about the figures this afternoon.

CONCERN HAS BEEN raised in the Dáil that no compliance notices for errors in return-to-work rules have been issued by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) following some 800 Covid-19 inspections.

All businesses that are reopening following the easing of restrictions have to comply with the mandatory return-to-work health and safety protocols.

Among other things, they have to ensure strict adherence to social distancing, provide hand sanitiser, monitor their employees’ temperatures and create designated isolation areas for workers who might fall ill over the course of the working day.

Speaking today at the Oireachtas Special Covid-19 Committee, Labour TD Ged Nash expressed concern that no compliance notices have yet been issued as businesses reopen. 

Secretary General of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Dr Orlaigh Quinn said that between various departments agencies, there are “500 plus” inspectors available to conduct checks.

“We have also said if further inspectors resources are required we will look at that again. Each of the inspectors will be trained by the Health and Safety Authority and they will use the same standard approach and we will operate on that basis,” she said. 

Asked by Nash how many Covid-19 return-to-work protoocol checks have so far been carried out, Quinn said it was in the region of 800. 

Up to now, the Health and Safety Authority have done, I think my last figures was something like 1,100 or so inspections and of those 800-odd were specifically related to Covid.

“My understanding is they’re very satisfied with the level of compliance to date, and they have been very much working on the engagement side, training, all of the supports put in place to make sure that employers work. They’ve also been developing very specific guidance, as you know, part of the return-to-work protocol is there’s a worker representative, so they’ve been working very specifically on training for that person,” she said. 

Labour 166 Labour TD Ged Nash. Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Nash however said the lack of compliance notices is a worry:

“So no compliance notices have been issued to date, because I know the Health and Safety Authority take a risk based approach to their inspections and work in a collaborative fashion with employers to try to ensure that all of the necessary protections are put in place. But I am a little concerned that at this point in time they haven’t felt the need to issue any compliance notice to any employers who may have erred. ”

The Louth TD also said that consideration should be classified as an occupational illness, such is the number of people contracting it in the workplace.

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:24 AM

    That headline right there is an embarrassment to any government in power. Shameful that this is how vulnerable people get access to housing.

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:39 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: who do you think funds those agencies??

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    Mute The next small thing
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:39 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: This housing is paid for by the Government, it’s just another way of delivering it and can be done cheaper than going through the Local Authority. Also the Local Authority doesn’t have the problems and costs associated with social housing such as maintenance, non payment of rent and anti social behaviour.

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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:02 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: If we were to wait around til the state looked for land and funding to build public social housing on, we will have a way bigger homeless issue to deal with…

    The AHBs are providing a much needed ‘home for life’ service – some of these are built on private lands still own by Trusts; who claim a share of the rents to fund Charities, stakeholders and investors etc. While the rest of the rent goes to the upkeep and maintenance.

    This is the future of social housing. Public owned land is getting scarce.

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    Mute Pauline Fedigan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:17 AM

    @James Gorman: THE TAX PAYERS

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:33 AM

    @James Gorman: WE DO. I’m under no illusion how these charities and agencies are funded my point was that we have a completely dysfunctional housing agency that cannot delivery all housing like a properly ran agency should. But thats ok James if you think you are getting good value out of those civil servants happy days come to think of it you probably are one of them.

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    Mute James Walsh
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    Jun 10th 2020, 10:21 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: You don’t seem to understand the concept , just eager to express some outrage

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:14 PM

    @James Walsh: aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…now i feel better

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    Mute Jenny Hughes
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:36 PM

    @James Walsh: “just eager to express some outrage” this sums up most people these days! I’ll be stealing this phrase, you’re spot on!

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    Mute Shaner Mac
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:21 AM

    With the completely dysfunctional and unsustainable nature of the current social housing system, I’m not surprised that local councils can’t and don’t deliever them directly.

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    Mute Sean Boylan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:42 AM

    @Shaner Mac: The local councils are delivering social units also ranging from new builds, part v, purchases and leases. The same with the voluntary housing bodies, the majority of the new units to this sector are funded and procured through the local councils. Most of the new units stated are owned by the LA and leased to the voluntary bodies. The two always work together to provide housing services.

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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:04 AM

    @Sean Boylan: not all of them. Some are privately build for this purpose; LA just pay the rent similar to HAP for private landlords.

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    Mute New Day Rising
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    Jun 10th 2020, 8:52 AM

    Just imagine the state this country would be in without charity and volunteer involvement, they do it all, housing, mental health, cancer respite, suicide prevention to name a few. The governments over decades have failed us

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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:07 AM

    @New Day Rising: you are aware the majority get 50-80% funding from the Government to run these services under Service Agreements?

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    Mute Greg Daniel
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:21 AM

    Build it and they will come

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jun 10th 2020, 9:16 AM

    Yes, the AHB’s are doing wonderful work throughout the country in providing homes to the most vulnerable.

    The Peter McVerry Trust operates a wonderful scheme – now up and running in many counties – whereby owners of run-down unoccupied properties are assisted financially in bringing them back to life.

    There’s a dribble of Income for the freehold owner initially until repair bill has been fully recovered; afterwards… almost full market rent for the region in question. PMT takes care of everything.

    So for anyone wondering what to do with their recently inherited, bramble/ivy covered, right country located, fixer upper, talk to the folks at The Peter McVerry Trust.

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    Mute Damon16
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:40 PM

    Good. 100% of social housing should be built this way. The public sector is the most inefficient and unaccountable entity.

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    Mute Patrick FitzGerald
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:56 PM

    Non profit should be the only way housing is provided. That we allow people to use housing they don’t need as an investment vehicle and exploit people in the process is one of the worst archaic paradigms of human civilisation.

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