Mr. Neil McDonnell:

To be a little bit precise about this context, the law does apply different standards to youth workers. It is not true to say the rules and regulations that apply to the sub-minimum earners are the same as those applying to those workers over 18.

There are explicit restrictions in the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996. There are restrictions, although I know we are not really talking in the main about those. In the summertime, in particular, there is a restriction on the amount of work that 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds can do. There is a restriction on work after 10 p.m. There is a restriction on work during school time. If 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds are working, they must register with Tusla, and there is control on the sale of alcohol.We have to view the sub-minimum rates in the context of the law which restricts what they can do in the workplace.