Calls from Ireland's leading workers union that building firms should be blocked from state contracts have been strongly criticised by the boss of the Construction Industry Federation.

CIF Director Tom Parlon said there was no basis for SIPTU President Jack O'Connor's statement, accusing Mr O'Connor of merely "throwing a tantrum" over the CIF's decision to reject the national pay deal.

CIF members voted unanimously to reject the agreement, and instead called for a 10% cut in pay rates.

Mr Parlon said: "Social partnership does not form a legal basis for establishing wage rates within the construction industry.

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"In the past where there has been agreement at social partnership level the rates have been applied in the industry, but this can only happen by consent.

"The CIF has rejected the pay element of the new partnership deal, we've lodged a claim for a 10% reduction in pay rates and we’re entirely within our rights to do so."

Mr Parlon accused SIPTU of attempting to blackmail building firms into an agreement that is "wrong for the industry and wrong for the economy".

"Does Jack (O'Connor) not realise what is happening in the industry that he purports to represent.

"The Government has cut infrastructure spending by in excess of €6 billion over the next four years. Hundreds of badly needed infrastructure projects have been culled," argued Mr Parlon.

He warned: "We won't see a new roads project for years if Government doesn’t reverse its decisions.

"Thousands have already lost their jobs and thousands more are at immediate risk. It makes a mockery of SIPTU's call to ban companies from state contracts," added the CIF boss.

(PR/JM)