A construction firm and its director have been fined for non-remittance of pension contributions to the company’s employees.

County Cork-based Wave Roofing and Cladding Limited was fined €31,000 after director Gerard Walsh pleaded guilty to 31 charges brought forward by the Pensions Board.

Hearing the case in Cork District Court, Judge O’Leary fined the firm €1,000 for each of the charges. The company has 90 days to pay.

Judge O’Leary adjourned the case against Mr Walsh until February 26th. A report will be prepared before then that will allow the judge to decide whether to impose community service or a custodial sentence of four months in relation to each of the 31 charges.

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"The Pensions Board treats the failure of the employer to remit pension contributions to the trustees of the pension scheme as a very serious offence," said Chief Executive of the Pensions Board, Brendan Kennedy.

"The board has a responsibility to ensure that pension contributions are remitted to the trustees of pension schemes and regards non-compliance in this regard as a serious matter."

According to Mr Kennedy, the Pensions Board is currently preparing prosecutions of a number of other employers and directors and advised employers with outstanding pension contributions to contact the pension scheme to "regularise their position".

(NS/KMcA)