Andrew Boylan
Ceist:44 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position, if any, Ireland has taken on the Council of Europe Agreement on au pairs. [22406/97]
Written Answers. - Protection of Au Pairs.
The Council of Europe Agreement on Au Pair Placement was opened for signature on 24 November 1969. Six of the 40 member states of the organisation have ratified the agreement: Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway and Spain.
The question of Ireland's signature and ratification of the agreement has been looked at on a number of occasions. The Departments concerned with the welfare of foreign au pairs in Ireland are satisfied that present provision for their welfare is adequate and do not favour the further legislative and administrative machinery which ratification of the agreement would necessitate.
An additional consideration is that the agreement provides for the protection of au pairs only within the acceding state. Ireland's accession would not, therefore, increase the protection of Irish au pairs abroad. For these reasons there is no proposal at present that Ireland should sign the agreement.