Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out the amendments that he intends to make to the Construction Contracts Bill. [51554/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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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 this regard, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is working with Senator Feargal Quinn to develop the Senator's Private Members' Construction Contracts Bill into a robust piece of legislation. The Bill has passed Second Stage in the Dáil. During the Second Stage reading of the Bill, the Minister of State signalled to the House his intention to bring proposals to Government on Committee Stage amendments dealing with certain issue. In order to ensure the legislation applies to the majority of Construction Contracts, the scope of the legislation will be broadened by reducing or removing the current monetary thresholds contained in the Bill. The issue of making adjudication awards binding for both the public and private sectors is a complex one. It is important to strike the right balance between giving this legislation the necessary enforcement provisions and ensuring the application of the legislation is equitable and the taxpayer is safeguarded. When these and a number of other issues have been examined, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, will bring proposals to the Government in advance of Committee Stage. This is an important piece of legislation aimed at creating a more level playing field between contractor and subcontractor in the construction sector. Therefore, it is essential that these complex issues are properly assessed to avoid imposing unnecessary regulatory or cost burdens on parties in dispute, the State or others.