asked the Minister for Local Government if any steps have been taken or are planned to overcome the technical and legal obstacles hampering the development of a common market in construction; and if there are plans for long-term forecasting of construction output and demand.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Market in Construction.
113.
Working parties have been set up by the EEC Commission to examine and suggest measures that might be taken to promote the development of a common market in construction throughout the community, with particular reference to the elimination of technical and legal obstacles hampering the development of such a market, the co-ordination of national research programmes in relation to construction, and long-term forecasting of construction output and demand. My Department is represented on each of the working parties.
In view of the fact that Irish contractors are moving into England, Belgium, France and places like that, should there not be some effort made by the Government here to do some long-term forecasting to assist Irish contractors who might wish to develop into the European market?
I can assure Deputy Lemass that the Irish firms seem to be doing quite well at the present time and these things work both ways as the Deputy knows.
Could the Minister not help them a bit?