asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a firm (details supplied) in County Cork have been or are about to be given the contract by the Office of Public Works for the erection of a school in County Cork, that this company is in breach of section 10 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969, arising from an agreement of 7 March 1969 between the CIF and the AS Woodworkers under which they are obliged to become members of the CIF pension scheme and that this company have failed to carry out the terms of the Labour Court recommendations D84/1633; and if he will withhold this and any other contracts with this company until they have honoured these arrangements and their legal obligations.
Written Answers. - County Cork School Contract.
206.
My Department has entered into a contract with the firm referred to by the Deputy for the erection of a school at Union Hall, County Cork. Tenders for the project were invited by the Office of Public Works. In the process of dealing with the matter, that office received assurances from the firm that it was registered in respect of the pension scheme referred to. The formal contract subsequently entered into with the firm by my Department contains a standard clause to the effect that.
...the Contractor shall pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour and conditions of employment not less favourable than those laid down by the National Joint Industrial Council for the Construction Industry.
This clause is taken to encompass an obligation on the firm's part to become members of the CIF pensions scheme for purposes of this school contract.
My Department is now calling on the firm to indicate that it is in compliance with the standard clause referred to, and if it be found that the firm is in breach of this clause appropriate action will be taken in relation to this school project. Due note would be taken of the outcome of this investigation in relation to any further tenders which this firm might submit for other projects for which my Department may be seeking tenders.