Rory O'Hanlon
Question:250 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the Government's policy on the International Labour Organisation convention on homework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/96]
Written Answers. - ILO Convention on Homework.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:251 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when the Government intends to ratify the International Labour Organisation convention on homework adopted in Geneva in June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22452/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. A convention on homeworking was adopted by the International Labour Organisation — ILO — during its annual conference in June 1996. The Irish delegation supported the adoption of the convention and an associated recommendation.
I have asked my officials to examine what steps, if any, might be required in domestic law to ratify the convention, although I should point out that ratification of such conventions is optional for the member countries of the ILO. I also understand that the European Commission may shortly take an initiative on the subject of homeworking and we would obviously wish to take the content of any EU proposal in this area into account in our examination of the matter.