Government must engage with companies and unions to address safety concerns

• Expresses solidarity with injured Stryker workers

Speaking in the Dáil today, Labour leader Ivana Bacik called for greater engagement with unions about safety concerns following the dreadful incident in Stryker.

Deputy Bacik said:

“My thoughts are with the two workers who were injured, following an explosion at a Stryker plant in Carrigtwohill, Cork, on Tuesday – one of whom remains in a critical condition on life support.

“My office and that of my colleague Seán Sherlock TD are in contact with SIPTU in relation to this awful incident.

“We back their call for an urgent meeting to discuss grave safety concerns on the three Stryker sites in Carrigtwohill. The union has been seeking such engagement since 2019.

“It should not take a shocking event like this to precipitate engagement to address safety concerns.

“Indeed, the Health and Safety Authority is already investigating several historical workplace accidents at Stryker.

“Stryker is an IDA-backed company, employing thousands of people in Cork and Limerick (both directly and indirectly), so the Government has a role to play here.

“Minister Coveney needs to come to the table with companies like Stryker and encourage union engagement to address safety concerns. Why is it always workers that must pay the price?”