New authority proposed to oversee public safety

A new authority with overall responsibility for public safety should be established, according to a report published today by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney.

The authority, with an annual budget of £1 million, would oversee areas such as road safety, licensing of public events and regulation of the building and electrical industries.

The report, from an interdepartmental group established last year by Ms Harney, calls on Government agencies to prioritise public safety in the decision-making process.

Concern over public safety has been heightened after accidents and other incidents at pop concerts and adventure centres and on the railways.

However, most of the 66 submissions received by the group dealt with road safety. Among the issues raised were the need for better traffic-calming and more enforcement of traffic regulations. Illegal parking and poor signage were also concerns.

According to the review group, no one body is responsible for planning in relation to major disasters. There are gaps in legislative provision on public safety, and guidelines are frequently ignored.

According to Dr Danny O'Hare, former president of Dublin City University, who chaired the group, safety is a responsibility shared between the public and the promoters of events.

"The Government has a primary role in relation to public safety, but it does not, cannot and should not be expected to carry that burden alone," he said.

Dr O'Hare criticises the absence of a "single authoritative voice" on public safety and suggests that the new over-arching body should have the power to direct Government Departments and agencies in this area.

Without this "core issue", he says, the positive effects of creating a new body would be undermined.

"This recommendation may cause some concern, but there are precedents for it, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, for example."

Public safety is defined in the report as "arrangements for the safety of persons and others, in the pursuit by them of private, personal, business and leisure activities not connected with their employment or place of work, and for the safe supply and use of utilities". The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for safety in the workplace.

On the regulation of the electrical contracting industry, Dr O'Hare says Government Departments disagree over where responsibility should rest. The group recommends that the Department of Public Enterprise should maintain a role in the regulation of the industry.

The group examined public safety in other countries and found it was treated on a case-by-case basis. The group included representatives of most Government Departments, local authorities, the Garda and the insurance industry.