Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)

I do not consider it is an issue of the association actually having evidence but, nonetheless, the rules under which its members are applying are not the same for non-Irish resident companies. The examples are the construction workers pension scheme, to which the Minister of State referred, the compliance with Revenue regulations and so on. The fact this is not auditable, is self-regulated and is written off without being examined means the level of integrity is just an assumption. It is more difficult for Irish firms to do business here at present than for non-Irish businesses.

I am asking for a level playing field. As I pointed out, enough work is being created and businesses are doing a good job on what is often hazardous work, for example, on motorways. However, we are creating work without benefitting from the jobs. Some of the evidence with which I have been provided - the Department can ascertain this - demonstrates that 70% of the larger construction contracts have been won by non-Irish companies in the past two years. That is a frightening statistic. We are looking for our workforce to go out and do the work. While I accept we have compliance issues, tendering processes and all the rest, I would point to the Spanish model where contracts have been broken down into smaller parts, with 25% for SMEs. These people fit that bill. I would like to see the subcontractors as well as the main contractors under the same level of scrutiny as Irish companies.

See this speech in context