asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the statement of a speaker at a meeting of the Dublin Institute of Adult Education that an Irish employment agency has sent girls to a concern in London which turned out to be a brothel; if so, if he will have the matter investigated; and if he will consider introducing legislation to regularise and standardise all private employment agencies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Irish Girls in London.
11.
My attention has been drawn to the statement in question. I understand that the agency referred to is in Dublin. Under section 85 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, Dublin Corporation has power to take action for the prevention of fraud and immorality in the operation of employment agencies in relation to female domestic servants. I have taken the matter up with the Corporation with a view to seeing whether any action can be taken in this particular case.
As regards the last part of the question, the matters referred to by the Deputy will be covered in conjunction with a review of the National Employment Service which will be undertaken following the receipt of the report of the survey carried out by the Institute of Public Administration.
If the facts alleged in Deputy Moore's question are true, would not a criminal offence have been committed?
I do not think so.
Deputy Moore asks the Minister whether:
his attention has been drawn to the statement of a speaker at a meeting of the Dublin Institute of Adult Education that an Irish employment agency has sent girls to a concern in London which turned out to be a brothel;
Surely if these facts are true there ought to be an investigation by the police authorities?
It could be inves- tigated under section 85 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, by Dublin Corporation.
Surely the Garda have an interest in the matter if these facts are true? I do not have the faintest notion whether they are or not, but surely if they are true the Garda should act?
I do not know whether a prosecution could be capable of being instituted——
Then let us amend the law forthwith to ensure that if an agency in Dublin were recruiting Irish girls to send them to a London brothel we can prosecute them and make them amenable. I am sure they are amenable. Will the Minister ask the Minister for Justice to consider this?
I will.