asked the Minister for Labour how many employment agencies are operating in this country; and how many of them are foreign-owned.
65.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Employment Agencies.
64.
asked the Minister for Labour whether there are any regulations controlling the operation of employment agencies; and, if not, whether he proposes to introduce any regulations to control their activities.
66.
asked the Minister for Labour if there are to his knowledge many employment agencies operated in this country; and if there are any regulations governing the conduct of business of such agencies so that proper rates of pay and conditions of employment will prevail in the posts offered by such agencies to their clients.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65 and 66 together.
There is at present no general legislation under which the operation of employment agencies could be controlled.
Section 85 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, enables local authorities to control fee-charging employment agencies in so far as female domestic servants are concerned. Dublin and Cork Corporations adopted this legislation many years ago, but even in the case of these authorities the legislation is largely inoperative.
I indicated when introducing the Estimate for my Department on 4th November last that I would be bringing forward legislation for the registration and control of employment agencies. The legislation is being prepared and I hope to introduce it in Dáil Éireann in the near future. In the absence of such legislation reliable information about the numbers and ownership of employment agencies operating in this country is not available.
Is the Minister aware of the present position in regard to these employment agencies? A great many people who obtain jobs are led into dead-end employment which offers no prospects. Would the Minister consider operating an agency or providing some form of advisory service to enable those looking for employment to obtain employment? Would his Department operate such a service? Would the Minister consider it desirable? Would he consider it feasible?
I am aware that some of these agencies do not behave in a manner acceptable to our society but a number of them do quite a good job and that was the purpose of my bringing in legislation, so that we can keep tabs on them and control them. We have a national manpower service established in my Department and we hope to expand it.
I realise that a number of these employment agencies are operating in a legitimate manner and provide an excellent service, but what I would hope is that the manpower agency would cater for young men and women leaving both vocational and secondary schools and people who had been in employment in hotels or in similar employment and who would, through the manpower agency, be able to obtain employment.
Perhaps, I should have told the Deputy that we have a national placement agency which is interested in employment at home only, not abroad.
I was referring specifically to people who want to obtain employment in this country.