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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prompt Payment Bill.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

296 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to address the concerns highlighted during the second stage debate on the Prompt Payment Bill, 1996, which was discussed in Private Members' Time. [22836/96]

The concern addressed by the Prompt Payments Bill, 1996, which was discussed during Private Members' Time on 20 November 1996 was the need to ensure that small businesses are paid promptly by Government Departments and State bodies.

As explained on Second Stage, the Government considered that the Private Members' Bill would not prove to be an effective or adequate mechanism for ensuring the prompt payment of business accounts by public sector bodies to suppliers. Consequently, I could not commend the Bill to the House.

In regard to my plans to address the problem of late payments, the position is that the Government gave formal approval, on 5 November 1996, to proposals submitted by me to have a Prompt Payment Bill drafted. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure the prompt payment of amounts due to suppliers of goods and services by public sector purchasers and by subcontractors on public sector contracts. I expect to publish the Bill early in the new year.

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