Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We have given resources to increase the inspectorate and to toughen the law. It has always been our policy to stop breaches whenever we can. Because far more people are working than ever before, there will be greater difficulty, but we must keep working to clean up all sectors of industry, including construction. All the issues around tightening up employment law have been examined at great length. The social partners spent from early February to approximately 20 April working on that aspect of it. They have put huge effort into exploring the measures they can bring to strengthen the law, procedures and codes. Some 90% of that has been agreed, a good result in any negotiation. We hope to achieve higher than 90% agreement, if not agreement on everything.

The manner in which public sector contracts are interpreted is posing difficulties. We are close to completing a review of public sector contracts. The Construction Industry Federation, CIF, and relevant officials have taken part in a major exercise to produce a different kind of construction contract, taking into account value for money reports. The Government is determined to bring this to a conclusion and has had endless meetings to achieve this.

Pay is the major issue but we are hopeful of working out a conclusion. I can only report the factual position to the House. Both sides are apart and we must work hard to resolve this. I urge both sides to do so as soon as possible. If it is not possible, there will be no agreement and we cannot implement the measures that have been negotiated and agreed because all these issues would fall on the basis outlined.

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