James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The current type of PPPs was designed to stop big contractors ripping off the State. What has happened is that the risk has been placed on the subcontractors, the little guys. The developers are using the subcontractors' good names to get goods in local stores, hire employees and so forth. The Construction Contracts Act 2013 provided that subcontractors would receive periodic payments. While that provision was laudable, it has proven to be rather meaningless because the subcontractors are in a very weak position relative to the main contractors and have no means of enforcing it. The State does not look behind or audit it. Does Mr. Corrigan accept that those aspects of the Act have failed to protect subcontractors?