John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures in place, or being planned, to ensure that products being sold here are not being manufactured through the use of child labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39650/06]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Irish trade is regulated in accordance with the Common Commercial Policy rules of the European Union. The EU has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of core labour standards and social development; the charter of fundamental rights of the EU confirms the aim to fully integrate these standards in all its policies and actions.

Cooperation agreements between the EU and other countries, as a matter of course, include human rights and core labour standard clauses as set out in International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. In addition, the EU uses its trade policy mechanisms to encourage other countries to improve standards by offering additional preferential access dependant on adherence to ILO conventions. Within the World Trade Organisation also, the EU, with our support, has been pursuing improved international regulation in the area of trade and labour standards.

Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote core labour standards. In 1998, we supported the adoption by the ILO of a Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This commits the ILO's 175 member states worldwide to respect the principles inherent in the core labour standards and to promote their universal application. Ireland has ratified all eight core labour standards, including those addressing the abolition of forced or compulsory labour and child labour.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures in place to ensure that companies in receipt of State aid here do not use child labour in their operations in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39651/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that EU State Aid rules do not include any conditions regarding the employment of persons in non-EU countries. It should also be borne in mind that any State Aid grants to companies in Ireland are paid solely in respect of the operations of the recipient company in the State.

However, the Deputy can be assured that the State's development agencies are most unlikely to be in a position of offering grant-aid to companies, which avail of child labour elsewhere in the World. The agencies in question are usually well informed of the history and spread of activities of their clients.

Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote core labour standards. In June 1998, Ireland supported the adoption by the International Labour Conference of a Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This commits the International Labour Organisation's 179 member states worldwide to respect the principles inherent in the core labour standards and to promote their universal application. Ireland has ratified all of the seven core labour standards.

This Declaration emphasises that all member states of the International Labour Organisation, even if they have not ratified the conventions in question, have an obligation, arising from the very fact of membership of the organisation, to respect, to promote and to realise, in good faith and in accordance with the constitution of the International Labour Organisation, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are the subject of those conventions, namely:

(a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

(b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;

(c) the effective abolition of child labour; and

(d) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

In June 1999, the International Labour Conference adopted Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Ireland registered its ratification of that Convention on 20th December 1999 and was the first European Union country to do so.

Ireland has in the past and will continue to support the promotion of core labour standards and this commitment has been reaffirmed in successive National Partnership Agreements.

Should the Deputy be aware of any specific information regarding child labour and companies operating in Ireland, I would appreciate if he would bring this to my attention.