Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many non-national contract workers who obtain work through employment agencies receive no pay when there is no work and cannot claim benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8846/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The practice in the employment agency sector in Ireland is that, in general, temporary employment agency workers are not paid by employment agencies while such workers are out of work. Accordingly, the position of non-national temporary employment agency workers is exactly the same as for Irish temporary employment agency workers. Such workers can seek other employment.

It is not unreasonable for employment agencies not to pay temporary employment agency workers while they are out of work as the situation would be the same for non-employment agency workers who are unemployed. The Deputy will be reassured to know that employment agencies are, in general, not granted permits to employ non-EU nationals. The question of the payment of social welfare benefits to non-national temporary agency workers while they are out of work is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.