James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and welcome the witnesses. It is important to start by setting out who we are talking about, especially for the public when they hear the term subcontractors. We are talking about family businesses such as painters, security firms, scaffolders or cleaners. These are people who have done nothing wrong. They are ordinary local people. They are the kind of people who get up very early, often at 5 a.m., and who do not return home until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. They pay their taxes and have given their time, their money and their blood, sweat and tears. We hear about helping rural Ireland. This is rural Ireland. These are the people who play for the local sports clubs and who volunteer for local committees. When one goes to a cup final or a boxing match, they are the people whose sponsorship is in the programme. I have never seen Carillion, for example, sponsor any local sports club.

I will start by referring to a meeting that took place between the subcontractors and the NDFA last Tuesday at which an undertaking was given to liaise with the Department of Education and Skills. Have there been communications with the Department of Education and Skills and what has been the outcome of those communications?