Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As to who is responsible, the contracting body, if it is an agency or a Department, is the contractor. Obviously, they are aided and guided by the new OGP. It sets out overarching frameworks to ensure European and domestic laws are fully applied. Any contract is with the contracting party, which is the agency or the Department awarding the contract.

Regarding the Construction Contracts Act, I indicated it would not be appropriate for my Department, which is in charge of the OGP, to be the supervisor of contracts and yet the referee in disputes. That responsibility has moved to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I will talk to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Gerald Nash, to check about its status, which the Deputy raised again. I would be anxious, like him, that this Act will be fully operational. It started off as a Private Members’ Bill in the Seanad and it needs to be brought into force.

See this speech in context