John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Recently, we heard reports that some contractors working on the schools building programme are employing sub-contractors who are paid substantially less than industry-wide agreed rates. This morning there was a protest at the gates of Leinster House and many colleagues will have met members of the trade union involved. This is not a recent phenomenon and has been ongoing for a considerable time. Contractors have a responsibility, irrespective of who they employ as sub-contractors, to adhere to industry-wide agreed rates of pay and conditions. Will the Leader get a comment on this from the responsible Minister or Ministers? Contractors who do not pay agreed rates should not be awarded any contracts in the schools building programme.

I will be raising this issue with the Minister, along with many of my Labour Party colleagues. I would be more than happy if the Leader could facilitate the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Nash, to comment in the House on this issue?