Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Roadbridge entering receivership has come as a major shockwave to workers, contractors and suppliers throughout Mayo and this State. The extent of the devastation for workers and contractors is unfolding each day before our eyes as employees find that their pension contributions have not been paid, their health insurance has lapsed and they cannot afford to keep paying their mortgages. It was alarming earlier today to hear the Tánaiste and Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment refer to the liquidation of Roadbridge when, in fact, the company has gone into receivership. It begs the question whether he or his Government know what is happening and whether they have a handle on this.

What engagement has taken place with Roadbridge? What bonds are in place? We all know that construction inflation has gone through the roof. We also know that due diligence carried out by companies before allocating major contracts has fallen short and there has been auditing of verified companies as financially stable when they were anything but that. The fact is many subcontractors and suppliers have now been burnt twice in the past decade and this is catastrophic. These are intergenerational companies and local employers that operate to the highest ethical standards. They are loyal to their communities, their workers and to the families who sacrificed and worked hard to build reputations and to carve out businesses in the toughest of times. The Government needs to step up here.

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