As the number of deaths on farms so far this year rose by 75 per cent, the Health and Safety Authority was urged yesterday to take a stronger role in the enforcement of safety standards on farms.
The call came from Deputy Billy Timmins, Fine Gael's spokesman on agriculture, as the Health and Safety inspectors began an investigation into the latest farm death.
That involved the killing of an elderly woman by a bull in a farmyard in Templebraden, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, on Tuesday afternoon.
Mrs Margaret Keane (87) was watching the unloading of a new bull on her farm when the animal went out of control, knocking her to the ground and attacking her. She died later in hospital.
Mrs Keane, who is survived by two sons and a daughter, was buried yesterday in Templebraden.
Her death brought to seven the number of farm fatalities so far this year. This time last year, there were only four deaths.
Mr Timmins, who expressed sympathy with the family of the dead woman, said he was very concerned at the rise in the number of farm deaths so early in the year.
"All farmers are required to have a formal Farm Safety Statement, but as far as I am concerned this is a joke because so few of them meet the requirement," he said.
The handling of livestock is one of the primary causes of deaths on farms.