Screening of the legislative proposals pending before the legislator

Speech by Liz Lynne on Tue 27th Sep 2005

Madam President, I too welcome the Commission statement, particularly as far as the optical radiation directive is concerned. I am delighted that the Commission is joining with us in Parliament to call for natural radiation to be taken out, and for the temporary workers directive to be looked at. I have always felt that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work.

I hope that the Commission might look again at another physical agents directive, the electromagnetic fields directive, and how it will affect MRI scanners, in terms of bringing in static magnetic fields. We need health and safety legislation, yes; but only when it is necessary at EU level and when it cannot be done at Member State level. For instance I would like to see a specific directive on needlestick injuries. I would like, under Article 13, to see a specific directive on age and on disability. Nevertheless I welcome what the Commission is saying. There is unnecessary regulation and, speaking as a pro-European, I think it does us more harm than good.