Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will expedite the process of finalising panels of adjudicators to get the adjudication process under way for contractors who are owed money (details supplied). [19718/14]

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, Minister of State Brian Hayes worked closely with Senator Feargal Quinn to develop the Senator's private member's Construction Contracts Bill into a robust piece of legislation. The Bill passed all stages of the Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2013 and was signed into law on the 29 July 2013.

Two further steps are necessary for the operation of the legislation prior to its commencement.  The first, a comprehensive code of practice for the conduct of adjudication, has been the subject of consultation with key stakeholders. The final draft of the code of practice was circulated to stakeholders in March. The second element requires the establishment of a panel of adjudicators and a chair of that panel to be appointed.  The chair of the panel will appoint an adjudicator where parties to a payment dispute (that has been referred to adjudication under the Act) fail to agree on an adjudicator between them. Officials in my Department are working on the details of the structure for the panel, its set up and operation and this will shortly be circulated to stakeholders for consultation.  Once this process is concluded, the panel will be advertised and once the appointment process to the panel is concluded the Act will be commenced.

The frustration that many contractors experience when faced with non-payment is understood and was the reason the legislation was included in the Programme for Government.  The mechanisms required for the successful delivery of the legislation are complex and, although similar legislation operates in other jurisdictions, aspects of the Act such as the panel of adjudicators must be carefully considered to ensure the Act will operate as intended.