Minister Sherlock urges Irish industry to


take advantage of EU chemicals legislation The Health and Safety Authority, recently hosted a conference in Dublin on REACH, the EU Chemicals Regulation aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the effects of chemicals.


not only comply with but also exploit the competitive and innovation opportunities that REACH provides.”


Opening the conference, Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, said: “In implementing the REACH legislation I’m pleased to see that progress is being made in achieving a balance between protection and competitiveness in Ireland and across Europe. Ireland has been playing an important role in ensuring that industry competitiveness and innovation underpins the key protection role that must be fulfilled under the REACH legislation."


"Our pharma-chem and high tech sectors are committed to regulatory compliance with REACH. Given their importance to the Irish economy, every effort should be given to support them, as well as SMEs, to


The conference, entitled ‘REACH- ing a balance between protection and competitiveness in Europe’, featured speakers from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Member State Authorities (Denmark, Germany, UK, Sweden) as well as environmental and worker organisations and representatives from the Irish Pharmaceutical and High Tech sectors.


Mr Geert Dancet, Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), highlighted how ECHA has and will continue to work and collaborate with all stakeholders: “Reaching the balance between protection and competitiveness cannot be achieved in isolation or in the short term which is why in its forthcoming multiannual strategic plan ECHA envisions further strengthening


the active engagement of authorities and stakeholders in its activities.”


Martin O’Halloran, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said: “At the Health and Safety Authority we are committed to implementing the REACH legislation in a way that not only protects health and the environment but also maximises industry competitiveness and enhances innovation and the opportunities that go with that. I would urge all businesses to ensure they are aware of and fulfil their obligations in relation to the management of chemicals and be positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge as a result.”


SFA issues warning on growth of ‘black economy’


The level of unfair competition from 'black economy operators' is on the increase and is likely to rise further due to the current economic situation, according to A J Noonan, SFA Chairman. He said the scope, scale and extent of the black economy is causing serious problems for small business, by diverting spend away from legitimate businesses and undermining the ability of Government to collect taxes efficiently and effectively.


According to Noonan: “Leakage to the black economy is now estimated to be as high as 14% of GDP or half a billion euro each month is generated that the taxman does not have access to!”


“Recent seizures of contraband point to a significant increase in activity of ‘cowboy


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operators’. The number of illegal transactions is growing and this poses a very serious threat to the survival of many registered tax compliant businesses. Due to the scale of the drain on the economy, attempts to tackle the problem are long overdue and given that sometimes controversial measures are necessary, a European initiative may be required."


Apart from the effect on the economy, Noonan warns that workers in the black economy can be among those least protected in terms of employment law; health or social security benefits and often lose the opportunity for security or promotion within the workplace.


The SFA is calling on the Government to take the initiative to tackle the informal economy. This would involve, firstly, increased labour


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market flexibility, and the further adoption of administrative and tax regimes which favour working in the formal economy and secondly, awareness campaigns highlighting the antisocial nature of informal economy working, combined with tougher enforcement.


“It is essential that all companies can compete on a level playing field and for the removal of what amount to penalties for compliance through the proper enforcement of the regulations for dealing with those who operate outside the legitimate sector of business,” concluded Noonan.


www.sfa.ie


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