Fiona O'Malley (Independent)

I agree that many Government agencies have improved, but we cannot be complacent. For someone who is one of the 40% not being paid by the Government agency the Minister of State mentioned, it is a problem. I welcome the movement to a prompt payment system, which is obviously necessary. If a business makes a contractual agreement, it can stand, but if we were to adopt best practice, it would work best for everyone. I ask the Minister of State to consider this because a contract is a contract and paying within 30 days is as important a part of it as anything else. If there was a legal framework to support businesses in these circumstances, it would be of great assistance.