John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Representatives of fhe NDFA were before the committee this week. I think the only outcome was that their attitude infuriated the members present; it certainly infuriated me. I am sure it also drove the delegates to the same conclusion that it was not fit for purpose. They said two things which I ask the delegates to consider.

It was said that it has two reasons for its existence. One is to give advice in relation to the funding of all of these projects and the other is to ensure the delivery of the PPP contracts. It is in the delivery of the contracts that it has failed, because the subcontractors are not part of the conclusion to the contract or finalising it and they are due the payment. Mr. Miley asked what can we do. The purpose of hearing from the NDFA was to establish its position within this structure of companies that now exists. I do not know whether the witnesses have seen a copy of the transcript of the meeting but we will make it available to them. We then wanted to establish the number of contractors and how we can assist. I can safely say from what members are saying that it would be our view that we would consider either bringing back in the NDFA, sending the transcripts to the Minister and the Department of Education and Skills among others, and making some form of recommendation as to how we feel the subcontractors should be dealt with, and how they should be included in the process of payments in some way. There is a responsibility on the State to ensure that happens. That is my firm view on it. While we do not have the authority to instruct the Department of Finance, we certainly have the pressure within the committee to begin to raise the matter, perhaps as a report to the Dáil, and to ensure further engagement with the agencies of the State that we feel are responsible for this, and that is what we will do. To the extent of our remit, we will pursue the issue to the nth degree. I think that is a commitment the committee can give to the subcontractors today.