Employment Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2013

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Questions (645)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

645. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs following the recently published Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Report December 2012 Part of the Family, which illustrates the way the unregulated au pair system is being used to facilitate cheap child care and that leaves au pairs without basic protections, her plans to address the issue of au pairs here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8224/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The issues raised by the Deputy relate in the main to the employment rights of au pairs. This represents a private contractual arrangement between an employer and an employee and, as such, is not for my Department. It is, therefore, more appropriate to have the matter considered by my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.