Fianna Fáil is urging the Government to introduce legislation around the work of au pairs in Ireland.

The party is set to put forward a bill that would see the work and conditions set out in legislation and set up an independent body to accredit organisations offering the service.

It follows a case in which the Workplace Relations Commission ordered that a Spanish au pair receive at least the minimum wage earlier this year.

The proposed legislation would limit the amount of hours a week and the pay that au pairs could receive.

The Sunday Independent reports that families would hire the childminders as part of a cultural and education exchange programme, and au pairs would receive 'hospitality, lodging and pocket money'.

They would be able to work for no more than 30 hours a week or seven hours a day.

The proposals are being put forward by Fianna Fail's Anne Rabbitte, the party's spokesperson on children and youth affairs.

She says she would like to see "the definition of the au pair, the definition of the work, and how we address the funding of the au pair".