Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The last thing I will add is not a question but a statement. I welcome the work the Department has done on this. It is progressive and we should endorse it. Hopefully the Minister will sign it. One issue that arises for smaller contractors going on to sites is how they are being treated by general contractors. This pay floor will obviously mandate that a smaller contractor must offer pension entitlements, sick pay and all the rest. The Department needs to start looking at the line between general contractors and small-term subcontractors and how they are treated. Ultimately, a subcontractor has to provide this additional floor to all of his or her workers, while still trying to get paid by the general contractors. A feature of the construction sector in Ireland for many years, which probably is starting again, is that subcontractors oftentimes get hit with charges with lack of payment from general contractors. They have no issuance to the Department or anyone else to go there for that. I just point that out to Ms Coogan. I thank the Chair and I have finished.