Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Is the Minister concerned at the cost to compliant taxpayers including compliant building firms, of using the sub-contracting system? Would he agree that in some years it is possible that up to €400 million of taxation has been underpaid by the construction industry, which includes building, forestry and the meat industry? The Minister knows that for 18 months it was not possible for officers of the Revenue to go on site and I ask him who was responsible. When the health and safety legislation was introduced the tax inspectors did not have the boots or overalls and in particular did not have the training to safe-pass standard, which is required by anyone on a construction site regardless of whether they are construction workers or Revenue workers hoping to make checks.

Is the Minister concerned about the loss that would arise in relation to young building industry workers who, despite paying tax at 35% and being told they are compliant for tax purposes, have no PRSI cover in the event of an accident and for whom, consequently, if they were to end up badly injured, the cost would fall back on to the State? We have a booming construction industry, but that is no excuse for the Minister's complacency in allowing rogue players in the industry to get away with significant financial scams to avoid the payment of their proper tax.

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