Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister was very keen to pass the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014. He might explain why he chose not to commence it until such time as he was embarrassed publicly to so do when the Minister, Deputy Shatter, announced his resignation and why he has now chosen to bring the remainder of it into operation in a month's time or so and not on the same date as applied to the ministerial severance payments.

The Construction Contracts Act 2013 has been around for years on end. Senator Feargal Quinn laboured extensively to get it through the Houses of the Oireachtas and many people have been in touch with me in recent times complaining that it has not yet taken effect. As the Minister knows, this is having a detrimental impact on the construction industry because it affects the rules in regard to how contractors and subcontractors will be paid for work. As long as the Minister keeps that legislation in suspension, uncertainty prevails in the industry.

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