I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act for the purposes of the better protection of rights of young people on cultural and education exchange programs with no more than 30 hours light domestic help per week in exchange for hospitality, lodging and pocket money, to be known as ‘Au Pair Placements'; to set up a new Au Pair Accreditation Council tasked with the protection of these rights and the oversight and registration of Au Pair Placements; to give the relevant Minister powers to make regulations defining the rights and responsibilities of those participating in Au Pair exchanges, accredited agencies and the Au Pair Accreditation Council.
I have brought forward the Bill with the help of my colleagues to introduce a definition of au pair, examine the idea of a cultural and educational exchange in Irish society for the au pair and develop a framework of supporting the host families, the au pairs themselves and the agencies. I look forward to debating the Bill next week in the Dáil.
