Mr. Dominic Mullaney:

To clarify, we have had approximately four meetings with the Irish Asphalt Pavement Producers Association. It represents the smaller contractors that do paving works throughout the country. It has put forward suggestions. Bitumen is a petroleum-based product. It is greatly affected by the cost of a barrel of oil. It has put forward suggestions which we have forwarded to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is due to get back to us.

The contract system has been in place since 2006. It probably has not been tested by inflation.