Mr. Paul Sheridan:

No. We fought hard against the introduction of these unique contracts. We thought some amendments to existing forms of GDLA would have done the job and allowed the industry to continue. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Looking at the last four years, we have to acknowledge that Brexit, Covid and everything have impacted on the ability of the OGP to deliver on what it has set out to do. Why would the Government want to reinvent a unique contract when there are standard international forms that will allow it to attract international companies? If we want to deliver a metro or anything like that, we have to bring in this expensive equipment that international contractors use and our local contractors generally do not. They go into joint venture, then they come in and help deliver that. Unfortunately, Article 4 of the current public works contract, which any layperson can read, states you are responsible for everything, whether foreseen or unforeseen, excluding your price. Your are supposed to get a price for that in six weeks.