ASSOCIATION NEWS
DENISE TUFFY FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FEDERATION’S SPECIALIST CONTRACTING OFFICE, DISCUSSES HER ROLE AS EXECUTIVE SUPPORT TO THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND HOW IT REPRESENTS IRELAND’S M&E CONTRACTORS... M&ECA – a voice for Ireland’s M&E contractors
T he Mechanical and Electrical Contractors Association (M&ECA) is the umbrella association for the Electrical Contractors Association and the Mechanical Engineering and Building Services Contractors Association. My role as CIF’s Specialist Contracting Executive is to provide support to the M&ECA and is incredibly varied. I lead M&ECA initiatives such as the formation of M&ECA Working Group on Apprenticeships and Recruitment. This ensures that the M&E perspective – which is of huge importance given that electrical and engineering make up approximately 60% of the current apprenticeship population – is communicated to CIF’s Education Training and Skills Committee, which leads initiatives. I organise events such as the M&ECA Golf Outing and various conferences and report at meetings on issues surrounding procurement and tendering; answering queries from members in this regard. From a CIF level, I co-ordinate activities around the formation of courses, facilitate member visits to keep up to date on activities within the industry and communicate the CIF values as well as knowledge sharing in relation to policy from government level. BEING HEARD The M&ECA as an organisation, represents M&E contractors at government level to ensure their voice is heard. This task spans across a range of government departments
and activities. For example, in relation to the inflation and supply chain co- operation framework that was released in May 2022, the Specialist Contracting Department worked closely with the Main Contracting Department to ensure that the views of specialist contracting were taken into account. A further item of huge importance has been the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 – 2025, which was released by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research,
are communicated on a regular basis. The M&ECA offers commercial support to its members in terms of assistance with understanding contracts and associated complexities such as design responsibility etc. Also, information is communicated to allow members to gauge the commercial environment in which all members of the Association are operating. The M&ECA provides technical inputs to regulations and gives members a vehicle through which they can
“Joining the M&ECA allows members to have an input into regulations that impact the M&E sector.”
Innovation and Research. The intention outlined in the report is to migrate all apprenticeships to the consortium-led model. As the current proposal stands – given that there is a lot to be ironed out at the moment – it could potentially have a hugely negative impact on the
voice their opinions. It also keeps members informed on regulations/legislation that has or will be coming into existence and what the impact of such regulations/legislation will have on their companies.
CHALLENGES Maintaining a healthy
current craft model. The M&E sector is heavily involved in CIF’s Education, Training and Skills Committee, which is the main vehicle through which their opinions are voiced. Given the number of employees and apprentices employed by the M&E sector, good labour relations are of importance. Assistance and support are offered through the CIF’s Industrial Relations department, and lobbying on behalf of members’ interests takes place with stakeholders including the unions. This is of particular importance to members in relation to the SEO process. Regular updates that are of vital importance to members in their day-to-day operations
pipeline of labour, especially in terms of apprenticeships, is a major challenge for the mechanical industry. Having a stable industrial relations environment with an overarching SEO process in place is of huge importance. In July 2023, the CRU will be introducing the regulation of Non-Domestic Gas Works, which will have a huge impact on MEBSCA members, as this is currently unregulated. Understanding the process in relation to the necessary training and the recognition of prior learning will be a task that many mechanical contractors will have to overcome in the coming months, if they have not already done so. Also, RGI (Registered
“The M&ECA as an organisation represents M&E contractors at government level to ensure their voice is heard.”
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