Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Bill and thank the Minister of State for his support of it. I also thank all those who worked on the Bill which addresses the problem of non-payment in a balanced manner to avoid imposing unnecessary regulatory costs. The Bill has been introduced because of the situation in which we find ourselves because of the antics in the Galway tent and some of our banking leaders such as the management of Anglo Irish Bank and various others. There are many casualties, including small subcontractors and construction workers. In the last four or five years 160,000 construction workers have found themselves out of work. The boys who sipped champagne ran the country because there was no political leadership and we are now in a very difficult situation where the Bill is necessary.

I welcome the Bill. The casualties include ordinary individuals who bought houses and are now in negative equity, people who are out of work and those whose sons and daughters do not have a future in the country. The Government must ensure they will have a future here. The current situation was brought about by greed and recklessness. The Government and elected politicians forgot who was in control and allowed light touch regulation of those who spent €550 per room in Poznan. Those days are over.

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