David Norris (Independent)

I join Senators O'Toole, Coghlan, Cummins and Buttimer in suggesting that now is the time for us to commemorate the Irish people who died in the First World War. It is a pity that so far no one from the other side has said anything on this issue. Perhaps before the Order of Business is concluded we will have some support.

Emblems such as the poppy are sometimes contentious. For that reason, wisely, all emblems are excluded from this House. The former Deputy Paddy Harte has provided me with copies of the poppies he has had produced with a shamrock in the middle to emphasise the fact that they are commemorating Irish people. There is, indeed, one for everyone in the audience because I have a supply of them in the office if anyone wants to wear them outside the Chamber. I remember, on the day of the Enniskillen bombing when Senator John Robb came from the back row and presented the then Cathaoirleach, Charlie McDonald, with a poppy, which, in a gesture of extraordinary reconciliation, he put in his lapel and wore for the day. I believe this matter should be looked at.

Can the Leader tell the House when my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn's Construction Contracts Bill will be taken? It is important we address this matter, especially in light of the High Court judgment placing two companies, Pierse Construction and Pierse Building Services, in liquidation. They had 2,000 to 3,000 subcontractors employed, and some of these are also facing difficulties and, possibly, liquidation.

We learned last week about hundreds of millions of unspent money washing around in the Department of Education and Skills. Wexford County Council has decided to use public moneys to complete certain projects that are of importance to the community. In this situation, where there are small sub-contractors who, through no fault of their own, face the prospect of receivership or liquidation and putting their workers on the dole, we should ask the Government to release that €300 million immediately and frontload the payments, if necessary, for accounting purposes in order that construction workers can continue to be employed, small firms do not go out of business and school projects are completed. I commend Senator Quinn on addressing this subject in the important way that he did.