THE construction industry has had mixed experiences with national agreements, the president of the Construction Industry Federation, Mr Kevin Kelly, said in Dublin Castle. It had seen no growth during the PESP, but with the PCW there had been a recovery.
Nevertheless, the sector faced intensive competition, particularly in civil engineering, said Mr Kelly. While the CIF would approach a new programme positively, an integral part of it would have to secure the industry's competitiveness, especially regarding Britain and Northern Ireland, he added. The Government should proceed quickly with major infrastructural projects which had EU funding.