Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions for the Minister. The former Senator Feargal Quinn brought legislation to the Seanad a number of years ago on subcontractors. Has the Government any proposals to bring that Bill to the Dáil in order to protect subcontractors? Major contracts now have to be given to major companies with major turnover, so all the small contractors have been left out and cannot apply for these big jobs.

The Minister has seen what happens when there are big contractors like Roadbridge involved. Almost €11 million is owed to people in Mayo, including small family businesses. When these companies set up operations, we expected that they would create jobs, not take them away from County Mayo. My heart goes out to these families. They have worked for 40 years to build up their businesses and a major multinational like this came in and took their business away from them. I want to put that on the record of the Dáil and give a warning to Dublin, British and Northern Ireland companies to think about Shell to Sea. If these people are not paid they will not be operating in north Mayo or in any other part of the county.

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