Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 132: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the Construction Contracts Bill, if he will revisit the proposal to limit the application of the legislation to contracts with a value of greater than €200,000 and €50,000 for public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26959/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, I am informed that the position is that Mr. Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently published the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of the Construction Contracts Bill. The Regulatory Impact Analysis examined issues relating to payment practices in the construction sector and assessed the need for legislative intervention. It found that legislation is desirable to improve payment practices and to allow swift resolution of payment disputes by way of adjudication, allowing projects to be completed without wasting time and money in litigation. The Report is available in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform website: www.per.gov.ie/reports. I understand that a note on this issue was circulated to all Oireachtas members last week. The RIA examined the main proposals to amend the Bill that were raised during the Seanad debate and at a subsequent consultation with key stakeholders. One of the issues examined was the impact of the €200,000 and €50,000 thresholds.

In the context of considering the various issues raised in the consultation process and incorporating them into legislative proposals which will be brought to Government shortly for approval, Minister Hayes will carefully consider the issue of thresholds in light of what was said by key stakeholders at the consultation meeting and in particular with the number of contracts that would be excluded if the thresholds were not amended or removed.