Vol. 544 No. 3
144 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress which has been made regarding the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness that Ireland would play a proactive role in encouraging the inclusion of a social clause in international labour standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28658/01]
Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote core labour standards. In June 1998, Ireland supported the adoption by the International Labour Conference of a declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work. This commits the International Labour Organisation's 175 member states to respect the principles inherent in seven core labour standards and to promote their universal application. Ireland has now ratified all of the seven core labour standards.
The declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work is a clear statement by the ILO of four principles: freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Last June, at the 99th Session of the International Labour Conference, which is the supreme body of the ILO, a special plenary session was held to discuss the second global report of the Director General under the follow-up to the ILO declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work, entitled "Stopping Forced Labour". Bonded labour is the most common form of forced labour and is a complex issue as it involves both children and women in bonded labour situations in certain parts of the world. This is an issue on which I have maintained a strong, personal interest, since my time as Irish Minister with responsibility for development co-operation some years ago. At the conference in June, Ireland was to the fore in highlighting the issue at the special plenary session. This followed the Lenten campaign earlier this year by Trócaire to raise public awareness of the issue and to push for its eradication. I had previously been presented with almost 40,000 signatures from concerned Irish citizens, urging me to raise this matter. Ireland, with the support of the majority of other EU member states, urged the governing body of the ILO to approve a substantial technical co-operation programme on bonded labour, over the next four years, with a series of clearly identified component elements. The governing body met on Friday, 9 November 2001 to discuss follow-up actions in this area and I look forward to their proposals on the matter. Last September a partnership programme between Ireland Aid and the ILO was successfully concluded.
