I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 1:—
Section 8. In sub-section (2), after paragraph (c), the following paragraph inserted:—
(d) the employment of a child, who has attained the age of 12 years, in light agricultural work suitable to his age and physical condition, if such employment takes place only on a day on which the school at which the child is attending is not in operation.
Perhaps the best way to deal with this particular amendment is to suggest to the House that it is in accordance with Article 1 of the Geneva Convention of 1932, dealing with the age for admission of children to employment in agriculture. It says:
"A child under the age of 14 years may not be employed or work in any public or private agricultural undertaking or in any branch thereof save outside the hours fixed for school attendance. If they are employed outside the hours fixed for school attendance, the employment shall not be such as to prejudice their attendance at school."
This amendment is in accordance with that principle and will cover the particular cases of part-time employment of a character suitable to their age and physical condition, which might be available for children at busy times on the farms and which would not conflict with their attendance at school nor, I hope, with the advantages to be derived from school attendance. There was a feeling in the other House that this particular matter should be met, and I introduced this amendment to meet the situation. I recommend it to the Dáil for acceptance.