Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Legislative Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Construction Contracts Bill 2010; and when this Bill will appear before the Dáil Éireann. [22683/11]

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Construction Contracts Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23575/11]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 236 together.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. In addition, you may be aware that the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 was introduced by Senator Feargal Quinn and passed Committee and remaining stages in the Seanad on 8 March 2011. It is now before the Dáil.

In this regard, my colleague Minister of State, Mr Brian Hayes is working with Senator Quinn to continue a collaborative approach in regard to advancing the Bill. The Senator's Bill is a welcome initiative and I understand that Minister Hayes and Senator Quinn held a meeting with relevant stakeholders and opposition spokespersons on 28th June 2011. This consultation highlighted a number of matters relating to the Bill that required further consideration and that have been taken into account in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which is being finalised in my Department at present.

These steps will make it possible to bring proposals to Government about how to progress this legislation. It is intended to have the legislation progress in the Dáil in the current session.

It is important that a solution to the problem of non-payment in the construction sector must not place an unnecessary regulatory or cost burden on the parties to the dispute, other parties involved in the project, or the State.

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