Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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390. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the regulations in place for recruitment agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42246/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The main provisions governing employment agencies are set down in the Employment Agency Act 1971 and regulations made thereunder. Under that Act an employment agency must hold a licence in order to carry on its business. The Act and Regulations made thereunder regulate the issuing of the licence. A licence must be renewed on a yearly basis at an annual fee of €500.

An applicant for a licence must, in the opinion of the Minister, be a person of good character and repute and this verified by means of two independent references vouching for the good character of the applicant. An applicant is also subject to a vetting report from An Garda Síochána confirming that there is nothing in their records that would render the applicant unsuitable to hold an employment agency licence.

An employment agency which has premises in the State must conform to the standards of accommodation prescribed by Regulations under the Employment Agency Act 1971 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Applicants are required to complete a self-certifying ‘Health & Safety Requirements Statement’.

It is an offence under the Act for an employment agency to carry on business without an employment agency licence and a person guilty of an offence under the Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €2,500 and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding €1,000 a day.