Building firms must be policed

PERHAPS more than any other sector of Irish industry, the construction business is perceived as susceptible to the activities of cowboy operators.

Without any doubt, confidence in the industry is sure to be undermined by today’s report showing that the Pensions Board is pursuing hundreds of building firms for allegedly ripping-off employees by not paying their pension contributions.

So widespread is the problem that half the building companies in the country have, in previous internal reports, been found to be non-compliant with the pensions law by holding back payments amounting to a whopping €35 million a year.