The Minister for Labour Affairs announced the publication of the new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004. Features of the new legislation will include on-the-spot fines and the provision of maximum fines of up to €3 million and terms of imprisonment of up to two years for breaches of the law. Company directors and managers may be held liable in circumstances where they are found to have contributed to any offence and they may be prosecuted under the new provisions.

The new Bill will repeal older legislation first enacted in 1989. The Irish Government considers that the Bill will also ensure Ireland's compliance with EU law in this area.

[Read the full text of the Bill]