Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Construction Contracts Bill will be enacted; the reason for the delay of over a year and a half in giving effect to this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13616/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government are committed to the earliest possible implementation of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 and, as a consequence, approved the delegation of responsibility for its implementation to my colleague, the Minister of State for Business and Employment, Mr. Gerald Nash T.D., last November. Work is continuing on the preparations for the full implementation of the Act, as the commencement of the Act is dependent on a number of factors set out in the legislation. These factors include the appointment of a Chairperson and Panel of Adjudicators by Minister Nash. The selection of the adjudicators for this Panel will be achieved through an open competitive process to be arranged by the Public Appointments Service, at the earliest opportunity. Minister Nash is also overseeing the preparation of a Code of Practice for the conduct of adjudications, which will be binding on all adjudicators operating under the Act. The drafting of the Code is at an advanced stage and will be finalised after consultations have concluded with the relevant construction industry stakeholders. A specific date for implementation of the Act will be announced in advance once the necessary arrangements have been finalised, in order to provide sufficient notice to those affected by the Act's provisions.