North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has said that the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson must bring in measures to protect sub-contractors as soon as possible.

His comments come after it was announced that nearly 150 jobs are to go at Joseph Hughes in Dunloy.

Mr McKay said: "Our thoughts are with the employees and families affected by this announcement especially in the mouth of Christmas. Hughes' is based at the heart of Dunloy and these job losses would not have been foreseen prior to the news that Pattons was going into administration, which has had a direct effect on the business.

"Contractors and sub-contractors alike want to see a system in place that offers protection and whilst I welcome the fact that the Finance Minister is looking at this we need firm proposals coming forward from the Department that mitigates against the domino effect that happens when large companies like Pattons go into administration and how this impacts upon other businesses in the construction sector forcing them out of business."

-- Advertisement --

North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann said: "The loss of almost 150 jobs as part of the Joseph Hughes Group is placed in administration is a tragedy for the employees and their families in the run up to Christmas. This is another blow in the wake of the losses at Patton.

"Unfortunately having listened to the concerns of many sub-contractors at the time when the Patton Group went into administration, this is still only the tip of a very big iceberg. Many companies are having cash flow problems as a result of the Patton collapse which are otherwise long standing successful firms. I do have to question how flexible the banks are being in this situation. Is it a case of them grabbing what they can and pushing companies to the wall without any concern for the wider economy?

"The Minister for Finance and Personnel along with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment both tell us that they have done all that they can in lobbying the banks. On behalf of the thousands of people in North Antrim who will be affected by the knock on effects of the Patton Group's collapse, I call on them to go the extra mile and again try to stabilise the situation where many otherwise successful businesses are forced to the wall by the unrealistic expectations of banks."

(CD/GK)