Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is unfortunate that Question No. 9 was grouped with the other eight questions. It had nothing to do with Cabinet committees, was a specific stand-alone question and could have been taken accordingly. That said, the Taoiseach should provide Members with a couple of examples of practical measures that were identified and agreed in the course of his meeting with senior representatives of the 11 agencies on September 22 last that would contribute towards both the protection of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs in this economy. I will give two examples. Was consideration given to the restoration in full or the acceleration of a schools building programme that would allow for the provision of much-needed infrastructure and the creation of employment in construction? Was consideration given to an adjustment in local authority and public sector contracts in construction service procurement that would allow for a more level playing field for smaller businesses and businesses generally?

Let us consider breaking down tenders into smaller parcels. This is normal procedure across the majority of EU member states, yet it seems to be frowned upon by the Irish Government and its Departments and agencies, with the result, for instance, that all the leaving and junior certificate examination papers for this year were printed in Britain.

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