Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2014
27. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in commencing the Construction Contracts Act 2013; if he will provide a full update and a likely date when it will commence, in view of the fact it is more than 18 months since the legislation was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39567/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra30. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in commencing the Construction Contracts Act 2013; if he will provide a full update and a date when this will commence in view of the fact that it is over 18 months since this legislation was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39427/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 30 together.
The commencement of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 is dependent on a number of factors contained within the Act itself. These include the appointment of the Panel of Adjudicators by the Minister, who must be highly qualified and suitable in order to ensure quality outcomes in disputes referred under the Act, the appointment of a Chairperson for that panel, and the drafting and publication of a code of practice for the conduct of adjudications, which will be binding on all adjudicators operating under the Act, not just those appointed to cases by the Chair of the Adjudication panel. Work on these items, and the required consultation with industry, has been and is ongoing.
It is hoped that the Act will be implemented in full by Spring 2015. A specific date of implementation will be announced in advance once it has been finalised, to provide sufficient notice to those affected by the Act's provisions.
