Written answers

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Employment Rights

8:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that seven domestic workers employed by diplomats have complained to the Labour Relations Commission about their treatment by their employers, and that three of these cases are so serious they have been referred to the Garda anti-trafficking unit; and if he will introduce measures similar to those in place in Belgium, Germany and Britain, where diplomatic visas are issued with stipulations that diplomatic employers comply with an existing code of practice on the protection of their domestic staff. [46462/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on 7 December 2010 (Question No. 216) by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs in response to a similar question. In that reply the Minister for Foreign Affairs set out the actions being taken by his Department, which oversees the operation in this State of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, in respect of private servants/domestic workers at embassies.

My Department has no function in relation to matters that involve the Labour Relations Commission. In relation to allegations concerning alleged criminal behaviour, as the Deputy is aware, these are matters for investigation by the Garda Síochána.

In the matter of visas and visa policy generally in respect of so-called domestic workers, my Department continues to liaise closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

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