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Unread 21-12-2016, 16:39   #1
James Shields
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Drogheda, Ireland
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Default Irish Times: Iarnród Éireann strongly criticised over attitude to safety

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irela...fety-1.2914516

Quote:
Iarnród Éireann strongly criticised over attitude to safety

Railway regulator says relations with the State rail company are ‘strained’

The country’s railway regulator has strongly criticised the attitude of senior management in Iarnród Éireann to safety compliance issues.
In its annual report the Commission for Railway Regulation described its working relationship with the State-owned rail operator as being “strained” throughout last year.
In its report for 2015, the Commission indicates unhappiness with moves by the company to “continuously” challenge and take issue with its determinations regarding safety compliance.
“Throughout 2015 it was evident that Iarnród Éireann was taking a noticeably different approach towards safety regulation.

“This was most evident in the stance adopted at the most senior level in Iarnród Éireann management when responding to matters of safety management compliance identified by the Commission.”
“It is of concern that the type of sentiment expressed in correspondence with the regulator may be a reflection of a leadership attitude to safety that would be less than the Commission expects,” it says.
The Commission says between 2010 and 2013 considerable progress was made in aligning safety management in Iarnród Éireann to European requirements.
However, it maintains the company began taking a markedly different approach towards safety regulation during 2015.
“The opinion or interpretation of legislation of regulations by the designated authority is final, unless over-ruled by a court.
“The relationship between the regulated entities and the regulator is not one of equals, and the Commission’s determinations in regard to safety management systems compliance and other safety issues are matters that should be accepted rather than continuously challenged.”
“Recent challenges by Iarnród Éireann to the authority of the regulator and correspondence outside of the formal document review process have become a distraction to the remit of the Commission.”
The Commission for Railway Regulation has responsibility for oversight of the management of safety by the various railway organisations that operate within the State and for monitoring sustainability of the Iarnród Éireann network and regulating access to the network.
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