There are calls for social clauses to be introduced that will see local companies prioritised for building contracts for the duration of the pandemic.
The proposal was put forward by PJ O’Hanlon at the recent meeting of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD and would apply to contracts of up to 3 million euro.
However, there was some concern over O’Hanlon’s stipulation that the companies be from the republic rather than the North, with Councillor Colm Carthy stating that a lot of local people work across the border and he would prefer to see them with work than a company in further South.
It was decided the proposal would be amended and seek a clause for tenders to be allocated locally rather than specifically in the republic.
Councillor O’Hanlon explained his reasons behind the original proposal:
