OSHA debate starts Monday

The 35 clause bill was laid by Leader of Government Business, Ken Valley, at yesterday’s sitting, which marked the resumption of sittings of the House after the Christmas break.

Valley indicated that debate on the bill will begin on Monday when the House meets at 1.30 pm.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning earlier this week promised that the amended Bill would be passed and become implementable by February 17. The PM had given the undertaking that Cabinet would have considered proposals for the amended act during its Cabinet meeting last Thursday. He said once those proposals were approved, moves would be taken to ensure that the act was introduced in Parliament expeditiously.

Manning’s assurances were given during a joint press conference with members of Natuc at Whitehall, following meetings with the trade union movement on the implementation of OSHA.

The trade unions have been lobbying Government, through marches, to implement the act which was passed in Parliament in 2003. They also threatened massive industrial action, that is shutting down the country, to force Government’s hand.