He also drew attention to the fact that the chairperson of the sub-committee which awarded the contract acts for the company in question, and the fact that there is potential for significant job losses among Irish workers.
Deputy Ferris said: "Balfour Beatty has an appalling record.
"In 1997 the company was fined £1.2 million following collapse of tunnel at Heathrow which they built.
-- Advertisement --
"In 1999 it was fined £500,000 after a train derailed on section of line laid by them.
"In 2006 it was fined £7.5m after a train crash that cost 4 lives and 100 injuries on section of line they had 'maintained'.
"In 2007 it was fined £180,000 after a fatal electrocution of one of their line maintenance workers.
"In 2008 it was fined £2.25 million after the Serious Fraud Office found them guilty of false accounting.
"In 2009 it was fined £5.2 million by Office of Fair Trading for corrupt practises in securing construction contracts.
"In the light of all of this, does the Minister believe that Balfour Beatty is a suitable company to be given the responsibility for the safety of the gas network?"
Minister Rabbitte stated that he would look into the information which Deputy Ferris referred to.
(CD/GK)
