Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007
130 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to publish corporate manslaughter legislation in view of the high level of workplace deaths here and the fact that his Department felt it would be inappropriate to deal with the issue of corporate killing in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of corporate manslaughter was considered at the time of the drafting of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill, which ultimately became the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. The Attorney General was of the opinion that there were much broader issues than safety, health and welfare at work which needed to be considered. Legislating in the relatively confined area of occupational safety and health would have omitted other sectors where such an offence could be committed. Therefore it was decided that it was not appropriate to deal with the issue of corporate killing in legislation which was providing for the law and regulation of occupational safety, health and welfare.
The Law Reform Commission issued a Report on Corporate Killing in October 2005 and it accepted the view of the Attorney General's Office that the scope of the 2005 Act was narrower than the proposed offence recommended in its Report.
Consideration of the Law Reform Commission's Report and recommendations are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Law Reform in the context of his main responsibilities for the criminal law system.
