Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 216: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that seven domestic workers employed by diplomats have complained to the Labour Relations Commission about their treatment by their employers, and that three of these cases are so serious they have been referred to the Garda anti trafficking unit; and if he will introduce measures similar to those in place in Austria, Germany and Britain where diplomats who refuse to comply with inspections by the employment rights authority will have future requests for visas for household workers refused or may themselves be declared persona non grata [46463/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to ensure that all domestic workers at Embassies are treated fairly and works with Embassies and relevant Departments to encourage best practice in this area, consistent with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. In the course of this year we have introduced additional requirements for diplomats wishing to employ domestic servants from abroad including the requirement to provide appropriate medical insurance. The Department of Foreign Affairs is not informed by the Labour Relations Commission of cases before it involving diplomatic missions in Ireland or their employees as the Department is not a party to these cases and it is not the Commission's practice to provide information to third parties.

My Department, has been informed by a non-governmental organisation about alleged cases of exploitation of domestic workers by foreign diplomats, however, the identities of the workers concerned were not made known to this Department. The Department will assist, as appropriate, in any investigations being undertaken by the relevant Irish authorities into alleged abuses and information received has been passed to the Departments with responsibility in this area. The question of human trafficking is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and An Garda Síochána.

My Department wishes to ensure that diplomatic privileges and immunities are not abused and we are working with other Government Departments with a view to implementing additional procedures aimed at strengthening the protections for private domestic workers in diplomatic households. The Department will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to deal with proven cases of abuse by diplomatic missions or their staff in Ireland.