Mr. Paul Sheridan:

As part of our submission we provided information on the number of contractors that have left the market. I understand the number of companies has reduced from 138 to 77. The type of contractors that would be in a position to deliver on some of the major infrastructural projects associated with transport in the NDP is decreasing. They are also in an internationalised market. Other clients in the UK and Europe are more competitive in the terms and conditions of their contracts, like the NEC. Therefore, they are looking at an open-ended risk on the Irish public works contracts and deciding that they will not tender. What is exacerbating the situation is, as Mr. Parlon said, the inflation risk. It is too difficult to go into a fixed-price contract. We are seeing a thinning out of the industry, unfortunately.