Is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry aware that inferior United Kingdom reinforced steel, non-CARES approved, is being dumped on the Irish market and used extensively in farm buildings grant-aided by his Department and, if so, will he make a statement on the matter? It has been represented to me that reinforced steel which does not comply with the BS4449 standard is being imported and used extensively in the construction of grant-aided farm buildings. This uncertified steel is, in effect, being dumped on the Irish market at low prices which make it attractive for some unscrupulous builders.
I want to establish whether the BS4449 standard is required for all Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry installations and grant-aided buildings and, if so, what arrangements are in place to ensure product certification. Will the Minister agree that third party product certification in relation to BS4449 is operated only by the UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels and will he say if there are plans to involve CARES in certifying steel imported into this country? Will the Minister confirm whether the European Commission's standing committee on construction recently decided that a product certification system will be a requirement for CE marking when the forthcoming European standard for reinforced steel is formally adopted? If so, what certification system will be put in place here? Will he require that all steel be embossed with the registered mark of the steel mill which provides traceability to that steel mill?
In reply to a recent similar question the Minister for Defence said that as regards Defence Force installations the corps of engineers specifies, where appropriate in contract documents, that all steel to be used in construction should comply with British standard 4449. In addition, provision is made in contract documentation to have construction materials tested should the site engineer require it.
The Minister for Defence on that occasion did not state how the materials would be tested or by whom. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry for full details of testing and certification requirements in relation to the steel used in work approved by his Department.