Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that consultation, which is indeed prudent. I welcome that at call-for-tender stage a company may be required to specify what part of the contract it does not intend to perform itself but intends to assign to a third party, which is significant. The company will also be required to inform the public purchaser of the names and addresses of such subcontractors, thereby providing a chain of responsibility. These tougher rules on subcontracting are intended to fight what is called "social dumping" and ensure that workers' rights are respected. Equally, it allows that contractors who do not comply may be excluded from bidding. These are very welcome developments. Does the Minister of State accept that we have an issue with social dumping and breaches of labour law in respect of subcontracted work on public contracts?

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