Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Ireland

Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) (Ratification: 1995)
Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) (Ratification: 1995)
Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) (Ratification: 1998)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on occupational safety and health (OSH), the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 139 (occupational cancer), 155 (OSH) and 176 (safety and health in mines) together.

General provisions

Application in practice of Convention No. 155. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the statistics provided by the Government in its report and in the Annual Review of Workplace Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities 2022–2023. According to those statistics, 10,096 non-fatal injuries were reported to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in 2023, which represents an increase of 11 per cent compared to 2022, and an increase of 15 per cent compared to the previous five-year average. In addition, 43 fatal work-related incidents were recorded in 2023, out of which 47 per cent occurred in agriculture, forestry and fishing. In this regard, the Committee notes the measures taken by the Government to financially support the agricultural sector, with a view to reducing workplace accidents, including financial contributions to purchase power take off shaft covers, as well as other measures, such as inspections, investigations, guidance provision, media campaigns, and working with key industry stakeholders. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of measures taken with a view to reducing occupational accidents and diseases in the agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide statistics on occupational accidents and diseases in all sectors.

Protection against specific risks

Article 2 of Convention No. 139. Replacement of carcinogenic substances and agents. The Committee notes the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances) Regulations 2024, and, in particular, section 4(5) of the regulations placing obligations on employers to “reduce the use of a carcinogen, mutagen or reprotoxic substance at the workplace”. The Committee requests the Government provide further information on its efforts to have carcinogenic substances and agents to which workers may be exposed in the course of their work replaced by non-carcinogenic substances or agents or by less harmful substances or agents.

Article 5.Medical examinations after the period of employment. Following its previous comments on this matter, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that national laws and regulations do not require employers to provide medical examinations after employment, and that such examinations are covered by the government-funded public healthcare system instead. The Government further indicates, regarding medical examinations or biological or other tests or investigations during employment, that the responsible medical practitioners can legally recommend health assessments to continue after the end of the exposure, for as long as they consider it necessary. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the application in practice of the system to supervise workers’ state of health in relation to past occupational hazards, including information on the role of the National Cancer Control Programme in this regard.

Protection in specific branches of activity

Article 3 of Convention No. 176. National policy. Following its previous comments, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s statement that the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Mines) Regulations, SI 133 of 2018, came into operation on 30 April 2018, consolidating regulations specific to mines into a single comprehensive document. The Committee takes note of this information, which addresses its previous request.

Article 5(4)(d). Waste produced at the mine. The Committee takes note of Regulations under Part 7 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Mines) Regulations, SI 133 of 2018, regarding the safe storage and transport of explosives and ANBI (substance assigned as ammonium nitrate blasting intermediate) at the mine. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions in national laws and regulations which set out requirements for the safe disposal of waste produced at the mine.

Article 13(1)(b), (2)(c) and (3). Right of workers to request and obtain inspections and investigations to be conducted by the employer and the competent authority. Right of safety and health representatives to have recourse to independent experts. Procedure. Following its previous comments regarding the measures taken to give effect to Article 13(2)(c) and (3), the Committee notes that, according to the Government, there has been no change to the legislative requirements regarding this matter. The Committee recalls once again that, under Article 13(3), the procedure for the exercise of the rights under Article 13(1) and (2) shall be specified by national law and regulations, and through consultation between employers and workers and their representatives. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures envisaged to give full effect to Article 13, by ensuring that national laws and regulations provide the procedure for safety and health representatives to exercise their right to have recourse to advisers and independent experts (Article 13(2)(c)). In addition, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions in national laws and regulations providing the procedure to exercise workers’ right to request and obtain, where there is cause for concern on safety and health grounds, inspections and investigations to be conducted by the employer and the competent authority (Article 13(1)(b)).