Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will address amendments Nos. 2 and 13. I must oppose amendment No. 2, which would provide that the Minister shall provide a report examining the establishment of a statutory skills register. The Bill provides for a register of providers of building works. The competence criteria for registration in each division of the register are determined by the board and approved by the Minister and will be published on a website. Section 29 provides that the Minister shall prescribe the required qualifications or experience or the combination of both that shall be required to be registered in a division. These shall be set out in secondary legislation for each division of registration.

I must also oppose amendment No. 13, which seeks to insert the establishment of a skills register in the criteria to be included in a code of practice for registrants. This is not relevant to this Part of the Bill and the competence criteria for each division of registration will be set out in legislation, as I described.