John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Senators Brady and Mooney.

I thank Senator Quinn because a suitable construction contracts Bill will be introduced within the term specified and not before time. During the boom times certain subcontractors had to wait or did not receive payments, sometimes for reasons that were not proper. Notwithstanding this, now that we are experiencing more difficult times, there are serious problems. Therefore, it is high time we regulated the industry. It is proper that contractors should be notified if they are not going to be paid. Banks and finance houses need to know the cash flow position of companies and some companies could lose out and not survive. We all need to pay on time in every line of business. Adjudication appears to work well and the system often leads to people agreeing terms before adjudication in the knowledge that it will result in a reasonable proposal and the right to suspend work if not paid.

The Government is still investing more than €6 billion annually to ensure our infrastructure is in good order and that we will be ready for the recovery that is around the corner. It is particularly gratifying that our motorways are being completed. The final leg of the motorway between Cork and Dublin will be completed this month, which is welcome. When a contractor has to get to work and workers have to get to a production facility, for example, or tourists want to travel around the country, the same infrastructure facilitates them. Everybody benefits and that is all down to the construction industry. At a time when there is a great deal of commentary about problems in the construction industry, it is no harm to remind ourselves of the great benefits we have seen and that these will continue to benefit the economy, including through legislation such as this.