Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a request for a meeting from the Construction Industry Federation regarding the possibility of its members deferring the pay increases agreed in the recent national agreement; her views of such a proposal; her further views on the potential consequences of such a move for the draft national agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41757/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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No such request from the Construction Industry Federation for a meeting has been received either by the Tánaiste or myself. I am, however, aware that CIF members will deliberate on ratification next week.

I welcome the fact that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and IBEC have recently ratified the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement, 2008-2009. This new Agreement provides us with an important framework for addressing the economic and social challenges which the country faces in the immediate period ahead.

At the same time, I appreciate the very real difficulties being faced by a sizeable number of firms in the construction sector in the current climate.

The CIF have always been strong supporters of the national pay agreements process. I believe that they recognise the value of this approach in order to:

maintain the orderly conduct of industrial relations in the sector;

underpin the management of change within the industry, particularly in the current volatile times; and

recognise the very particular difficulties being faced by individual firms.

I firmly believe that the Agreement reached represents a sensible compromise and the best terms that could be achieved in current circumstances. Most importantly, it will serve as a welcome boost for investors and workers alike — providing certainty in pay determination, safe-guarding employment and helping to preserve the industrial peace that has been a hallmark of social partnership and which was benefited our economy significantly over the last 21 years.

I am hopeful that all concerned will recognise the clear benefits of the Agreement — for themselves, their organisation and for the country as a whole — and will proceed to ratify the Agreement.