Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself that the number of labour inspectors is sufficient for the volume of workplace inspections here; if he proposes to increase the number of inspectors to a more realistic level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20609/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The assignment of previously announced additional Labour Inspectors was completed in November 2005. That brought the complement of serving Inspectors to 31 Officers. That increase in staffing represents almost a doubling of the number of Labour Inspectors in the last 20 months.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment circulated a Discussion Document on the 'Mandate and Resourcing of the Labour Inspectorate' to the Social Partners in early 2005. That document was the basis for further consideration by the Employment Rights Compliance Group (ERCG). The ERCG, which was made up of representatives of the Social Partners, including the CIF and SIPTU, together with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance, has completed its Report. The Report informed the current National Partnership discussions. Some of the key proposals in the Report are:

∙ A streamlining of access to redress through the existing Employment Rights Bodies thus enabling individuals with the information and facility to more easily vindicate their employment rights and entitlements

∙ Greater emphasis on proper record keeping together with increased transparency regarding pay and the associated information provided to employees on payslips

∙ Organisational improvements in the service provided by the Employment Rights Compliance Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment — including the Labour Inspectorate (including a regionalised structure)

∙ Major investment in Education and Information Dissemination on employment rights obligations and entitlements for both employers and employees.

The resourcing of the Labour Inspectorate and options to enhance the effectiveness of our Employment Rights Compliance regime are being considered in the current round of Social Partnership discussions.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports that some migrant workers have been discouraged from pursuing complaints against their exploitative employers due to the cost of obtaining a language interpreter; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that some migrant workers have been charged exorbitant fees by unscrupulous interpreters; and consequently, if he will introduce a statutory right to an interpreter for those migrant workers in need of one. [20654/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Labour Inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. The Inspectorate operates without any differentiation with regard to worker nationality as statutory employment rights and protections apply to immigrant workers in exactly the same manner as they do to other Irish workers.

The Labour Inspectorate is conscious of the difficulties sometimes experienced by migrant workers in pursuing complaints and in this regard the Inspectorate employs interpreters to assist with interviewing and the taking of statements from employees who require this facility in order to communicate effectively with an inspector. The cost of hiring such interpreters is borne by the Department.

The Employment Rights Information Unit (ERIU) in addition to staffing the telephone service produces a range of materials, e.g. information leaflets and booklets that provide a condensed and simplified version of the large corpus of Employment Rights legislation that is currently on the Statute Books. With particular regard for the needs of non-national employees the Department has translated key employment Rights information into nine languages and made this available both in leaflet form and on the Department's website. The unit distributes thousands of information leaflets and booklets to citizen information centres and post offices etc. around the country.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, established in 2005 by the British Government in the aftermath of the Morecambe Bay tragedy; and his views on whether a similar body should be established here to prevent the occurrence of a similar tragedy. [20655/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently carrying out a review of the Employment Agency Act 1971 in consultation with the Social Partners and other interested organisations and persons. The current social partnership talks are also addressing the issue of regulating employment agencies.