Paul Murphy demands extreme weather laws to protect workers

Thanks a lot. This is very simple. We need extreme weather legislation to protect workers. We don't have it now and the result is workers' lives and health are put at risk. One worker responded to the Unite survey about the response, how their employer acted in Stormy Owen, saying the company were more interested in production than employee safety because there is no clear legislation around extreme weather events. It is left to employers' discretion to do what they want. Unfortunately, employers' only concern is profit, so they will choose to ignore weather warnings if it suits their agenda. This is going to be an issue more and more. It's an issue now. It'll be an issue tomorrow. Tragically, it was an issue for Matthew Campbell, an electrician who was killed in 2018 while working in a forest during Storm Ali. His dad, Mark, told us at a press event last week that his son would be alive today if legislation like Unite are seeking had been in place then in the north. I hope no more workers have to die on this island before we have workers' rights legislation to protect people from extreme weather events to ensure that their employers can't put their lives at risk in order to maximise their own profits. Firstly, I'd like to thank all the deputies for raising this important matter. I want to begin by acknowledging Unite's concerns and those of the family of the late Matthew Campbell regarding the protection of workers from extreme weather events. I suppose these concerns are understandable, and the well-being of workers in all conditions must be a priority and kept as a priority. I am satisfied, however, that strong protections already exist within our current Irish legislation. Ensuring that Irish workplaces are healthy and safe is a key priority for me and for our department. There is a robust occupational safety and health regulatory framework in place, which is essential in supporting that priority, and the Health and Safety Authority play a vital role in delivering that. Irish law already regulates work carried out in high or low temperatures. Employers are legally required to assess the health and safety risks presented in their workplace, including risks from excessive heat, storms or driving for work. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act of 2005, employers must conduct a risk assessment, identify hazards, evaluate the risks they pose and put appropriate measures in place to protect employees. Extremes of temperatures are defined as a hazard and must be addressed accordingly, although there are no plans at present to introduce paid climate leave for extreme weather events. The Workplace Relations Commission provides guidelines on employers' and employees' rights and responsibilities during severe weather, and the guidance is also available to the public on the WRC's website. Any arrangements with regards to the provisions of paid leave during extreme weather events is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee. Some employers do provide for such leave as part of their policy, and it may be provided for in a contractual employment between both the employer and the employee. I know, deputies, that my department did meet with officials of Unite to discuss their proposals and offer to facilitate engagement between Unite and the HSA on this matter. And I would encourage Unite to accept this offer and explore ways to further enhance and amplify messaging regarding whether extreme events in the risks to workplaces. Minister, you are satisfied that strong protections already exist? Well, look at the evidence. Unite did a survey. Are you satisfied about the 48% of workers who went to work during Stormy Owen who said they did not feel safe? Are you satisfied that 53% of those who worked outdoors during the storm felt their employer had not taken all reasonable precautions to make their work safe? These are unionised workers. It means it is going to be worse, a lot worse, for non-unionised workers. If you do not give people legal protections, you are just leaving them prey to their employer to put pressure on them to make them work in unsafe conditions. We need a legal obligation to employers to have graduated alert-based responses. We need a legal requirement that where work is required to cease, they are paid as usual. We need paid climate leave. We need maximum temperatures at work. We need recognition of temperature-related illness as occupational disease. Thank you, the deputies, for raising this important matter. And again, I will reaffirm that the worker safety remains a core priority of our department's ethos. And certainly the existing legislative framework that I have outlined is strong. It's comprehensive. It is designed to ensure that employers assess risk and take all necessary steps to protect their staff from extreme temperatures and other hazards. And while I suppose there are currently no plans to introduce paid leave for extreme weather events, guidance is available, as I said earlier, with regards to both employer and employees' rights and responsibilities during severe weather events. The HSA have a key role to play in regards to this, and they do provide guidance, oversight and timely communications during these events, ensuring that workplaces are fully informed in regards to their obligations and that they're fully prepared. Again, as I said earlier, I would reiterate my department's offer for further engagements with Unite to facilitate engagement with the HSA. I think that's where this conversation needs to start, discuss how we can further enhance and amplify the messaging and continue to ensure that our workplaces are safe during these events. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat. Goera maagat.