Vol. 484 No. 3
97 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the priorities, if any, she has in relation to the International Labour Organisation; the contacts, if any, she has had with the International Labour Organisation since taking office; the plans, if any, there are for future meetings or contacts; the items to be discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22003/97]
The International Labour Organisation, is the United Nations' agency which deals with employment and labour market issues and whose mission is to improve standards and conditions of work and to encourage productive employment throughout the world.
My Department is in contact with the International Labour Organisation on a regular basis. As recently as 4 December, Deputy Tom Kitt, Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs met in Dublin with Mr. Heribert Schar-renbroich, Assistant Director-General of the ILO with responsibility for Europe and Central Asia for discussions on matters of mutual interest.
I am also pleased that the ILO arranged a tripartite study visit to the Irish Labour Relations Commission between 30 November to 7 December last. The participants on the study visit came from the Russian Federation, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.
The next international labour conference will take place in June 1998 and it is proposed to send a delegation to the conference. Among the items for discussion at the conference are job creation in small and medium-sized enterprises, contract labour and child labour. Ireland remains fully committed to the aims and objectives of the ILO.
