Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports that workers on a €50 million ferry due to begin sailings between Ireland and France will be paid as little as €4 per hour or around half the national minimum wage; his views on these reports; the action he will take in regard to this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4051/08]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the fact that workers on a new Irish Ferries vessel will be paid just €4 an hour, half the Irish minimum wage. [4076/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.

I asked the National Employment Rights Authority to investigate the matter. I am advised that the ship referred to by the Deputies is not, in fact, registered in Ireland. The responsibility for safety, rates of pay and living and working conditions on the ship rests, therefore, with the ship operator and the country where the ship is registered. As the ship is registered in another state, Irish employment rights do not apply to the employees on the ship. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, therefore does not have any power to enforce Irish employment rights legislation on board the ship.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) deals with living and working conditions on board ships. These conventions are enforced by Port State Control Officers of the Department of Transport and Marine. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Transport and Marine.