Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the practice in the film industry of certain companies hiring unpaid runners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45831/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The area of employment rights is now encompassed within my remit since last September and I would be concerned that any employee is not paid for work carried out. Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment protection legislation designed to protect all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis. Therefore, once it is clear that a person is working under a contract of employment (written or oral) that person has the same protection under employment law as other employees, including entitlement to the national minimum wage.

All employers, including those in the film industry, carry the same obligations in relation to compliance with employment law.

Where an individual believes they are being deprived of employment rights applicable to employees, they may refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which is responsible for securing compliance with employment legislation. The WRC can deal with the matter by way of mediation or adjudication leading to a decision that is enforceable through the District Court. WRC inspectors can also be asked to investigate certain breaches. Complaints can be made on a single complaint form available at the WRC’s website. I would urge any persons with questions or complaints regarding their rights under employment law to contact the Workplace Relations Customer Service on lo-call 1890 808090 or through their websitewww.workplacerelations.ie.