Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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458. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the commencement date for the Construction Contracts Act 2013; the reason for the delay; and if the members of the adjudication panel have been selected. [32050/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to the earliest possible implementation of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 and in order to achieve this, approved the delegation of responsibility for its implementation to my colleague Mr. Gerald Nash T.D., the Minister of State for Business and Employment, late last year. Minister Nash is taking all the necessary actions to bring about implementation of the legislation as speedily as possible and significant progress has been made to date. He appointed Dr. Nael G. Bunni for a three year term as Chairperson of the Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel with effect from 8th July 2015. Dr. Bunni has extensive experience of dispute resolution in the construction industry, both at home and internationally.

The Public Appointments Service is conducting an open competitive process, on behalf of my Department, for the selection of members of the Panel of Adjudicators. The closing date for applications was 18th September. Minister Nash will appoint suitably qualified candidates to the Panel as soon as is practicable following completion of the assessment process by the Public Appointments Service.

A draft Code of Practice for the conduct of adjudications, which is required under the legislation, is being reviewed within my Department at present and the relevant stakeholders will be consulted prior to the publication of the Code by Statutory Instrument.

Once these preparatory arrangements have been completed, a date for implementation of the Act will be announced in advance in order to provide sufficient notice to those affected by the Act's provisions.