Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the calls for a full debate on the Cassells report on education. It is important that the House debates the future of education and how we wish to provide for graduates, apprentices and others that will be needed in the workforce in the coming years.

The Construction Contracts Act 2013, which was enacted by the previous Government, will apply to certain construction contracts for subcontractors after 25 July this year. It is important to note that the Act originated in the Seanad and acknowledge the Trojan work of former Senator Fergal Quinn and the former Minister of State, Senator Gerald Nash, on this issue.The legislation will provide new payment protections for subcontractors who might be vulnerable, regulate payments from main contractors to subcontractors and provide a payment dispute resolution system, with a code of practice for an adjudication panel.

It is in this and the wider context that I ask the Leader to provide a debate on the future of the construction sector in this country. As we all know, it has suffered huge reputational damage. There was a serious loss of confidence in construction. If we are to meet the pressing needs in housing, foreign direct investment and economic growth we have to have a vision and strategy on how we propose to provide for a sustainable construction sector. I have said here before and I will continue to repeat that we need the skilled craftsmen, tradespeople, apprentices and graduates to meet the growth demands currently in our economy. We can make all the calls and table all the motions we like in this or the other House, but if we do not act quickly, have a strategy to deal with it, talk it through, debate it and make the resources available to deal with the issues and barriers that exist, we will not meet that demand. That is fairly obvious for everyone to see. Will the Leader provide for a debate on the future of the construction sector and acknowledge the work of former Senator Feargal Quinn and of the former Minister, now our colleague, Senator Ged Nash, on this important issue?