Unite House

55/56 Middle Abbey Street

Dublin 1 D01 X002
Republic of Ireland
Tel: 00 353 (0)1 873 4577
Fax: 00 353 (0)1 873 4602

Republic of Ireland Head Office

April 22th 2021

Re: Proposed legislation to regulate Irish motor mechanics and the

mechanical repair of motor vehicles in Ireland

Dear Dr. Foley,

We hope this letter finds you well.

We are writing to you in our capacity as the Unite the Union Branch for Irish Motor
Mechanics. We were inaugurated last year in an attempt to deliver a fairer deal for
mechanics in our industry and are currently in the first stages of a campaign to
deliver legislation which will properly regulate our trade for the first time and which
we believe will help to better protect the safety, livelihoods and lives of mechanics
and their employers, users of motor vehicles and the general public.

It is this proposed legislation we wish to engage with you on. We are aware that the
remit of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland extends to providing services for families and
carers of people with acquired brain injuries. Indeed, the National Office of Clinical
Audit’s report Major Trauma Audit Paediatric Report (2014-2019) cites that 29% of
all major traumas in children between 1 and 15 years of age are caused by Road
Traffic Accidents, of which 67% of those injuries are to the head.

Unfortunately, many of these accidents could have been prevented had the vehicles
involved been repaired and serviced competently and to safe standards.

As you will see from our enclosed proposals, if we were to succeed in having this
legislation introduced, the Motor Trade Supervisory Body would have the remit to

Jackie Pollock www.unitetheunionireland.org

Regional Secretary
“1a)...inspect any work carried out by a registered employer of motor mechanics”
and
“1b)...monitor the training and safety standards who is a registered employer of
motor mechanics”

These functions of the body would go some way to deliver on ABII’s aim to “influence
change and raise awareness of the prevalence of acquired brain injury in Ireland” as
per your mission statement.

In our attempts to ensure regulation of our trade, we want to build the broadest
possible cross-section of interested parties and groups who will benefit from such
legislation.

With that in mind, we are extremely keen to arrange a short meeting between a
representative from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and some of our Branch
committee. We shortly plan to make representations to the Oireachtas Transport
Committee with regard to our proposed legislation and therefore would appreciate
the opportunity of a discussion with you at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Is mise le meas,

Jimi Donohoe
Chairperson
Unite Mechanics Branch
Email: jdonohoe86@hotmail.com

Jackie Pollock www.unitetheunionireland.org

Regional Secretary