asked the Minister for Labour if a firm (details supplied) is registered under the Employment Agency Act, 1971; if he is satisfied that Irish girls going to the United States as nannies receive adequate protection and fair treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The firm in question do not hold a licence under the Employment Agency Act, 1971. However, my attention was drawn to an advertisement placed by the firm in a daily newspaper in late August 1985, requesting people for domestic work in America. Officials of my Department immediately contacted the firm and made them aware of the requirements of the Act and regulations. As a result, the firm have made application for a licence which is at present under consideration in my Department.

The provisions of the Employment Agency regulations place obligations on holders of licences in relation to the placement of persons outside the State, particularly those who are under 18 years. I consider that these provisions contain reasonable protection.

When was the advertisement referred to brought to the attention of the Minister's Department? Could he indicate whether the Department as a matter of course monitor the advertising pages of our newspapers in order to find out if young people are being drawn into these unlicensed agencies? Also, is there a register available or published of agencies which are registered for this type of work?

In reply to the first supplementary question, my information is late August. I do not have the precise date, but I could get it for the Deputy. The Department do monitor such advertisements and contacted the firm by telephone on the day on which the advertisement appeared. With regard to the last supplementary question concerning a register for licensed agencies, I am not aware if we have a register as such, but certainly the information can be made available if the Deputy so requests.

A final supplementary.

Is the Minister aware that this agency were still advertising quite recently, certainly within the last seven to ten days? Is he aware that young girls are still entering the United States under arrangements made by this agency? The terms of employment for these young girls are not at all satisfactory. They are, under the visa arrangements, illegal immigrants to the United States. Could the Minister indicate what steps his Department are taking to ensure that agencies of this kind no longer operate and that our young people who find it necessary to emigrate have the full protection of Irish law?

My understanding is that an application for a licence was received from this agency, if it is the one about which details were supplied by the Deputy, on 27 September. I am not aware of the advertisement to which he has just referred and will make inquiries into the matter.

If I might pursue the matter, a Cheann Comhairle, I understand there are quite a number of Irish girls going to the United States at present under what euphemistically might be called ad hoc arrangements under which they get holiday visas to work for families in that country. They have absolutely no protection, as I understand it, in the United States. They could be put out of these houses at any time and presumably can come under US law and be treated as illegal immigrants there. This is all being done for wages which could be classed as applicable only to slave labour. One report I received concerned a young girl who was working for $50 a week.

This is becoming a debate now and I cannot allow the matter to proceed along those lines.

She was working seven days a week, 14 hours a day, and this is totally unacceptable.

I cannot allow the Deputy to proceed along these lines.

Are the Minister's Department taking some steps to stop what is effectively white slave trade?

I share the Deputy's concern and will make inquiries into the matter.