Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
410. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm and provide the membership of the Construction Industry Register Ireland evaluation committee; if he will provide assurances that small- to medium-sized local builders, as well as sole traders, will not be at a disadvantage following the new requirements to register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16767/14]
View answerI see the introduction of the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) on a voluntary basis this year and the move to a statutory register by 2015 as critically important steps towards restoring public confidence in the construction industry.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF), which initiated the scheme, has appointed Mr Hank Fogarty as the Chairman of the board of the CIRI. In addition, five ordinary board members have been appointed by the CIF/industry, namely Mr Brendan Duffy, Mr Paul Forde, Mr Brian McKeon, Mr Mel O’Reilly, and Mr Kevin Sheridan.
A further five ordinary board members have been appointed by the CIF having been nominated by Ministers in charge of Departments and Agencies whose remit is particularly relevant to construction, namely Mr Cormac Allen (nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills), Ms Deirdre Fox (nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government), Mr Martin Vaughan (nominated by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government), Mr Liam Egan (nominated by the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW), and Mr Brian Higgisson (nominated by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation).
Participation on the register will be open to small and medium sized firms (who represent the majority of construction firms in Ireland) and sole traders. The imperative is to deliver a robust, quality registration system that serves the needs and expectations of consumers and of competent construction practitioners.
