The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the construction industry body that represents and promotes agreed policy and good practice for the sector and its members. CIC members are: Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI); Building Materials Federation (BMF); Construction Industry Federation (CIF); Engineers Ireland (IEI); Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); and The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).  
 
The rapid spread of Covid-19 and the efforts to combat it, have given the Irish people and our economy an unprecedented challenge. We in the built environment and construction sectors: design practices – architects, engineers and surveyors; building and civil engineering contractors and their supply chain and the building materials firms, have risen to this challenge. We have responded proactively to HSE Guidelines and Government Legislation, have worked to deliver essential services during this crisis and have developed new safe working methods and safety practices and guidelines for when our businesses and sites re-open and we remobilise our staff. Our industry members have proven themselves to be a resilient workforce and we encourage the continued pragmatism, innovation and digitalisation within the sector to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19. We take this opportunity to thank you for your energy and determination to ensure that we continue to provide best services to our clients. 
 
The provision of homes, healthcare and educational facilities, industry expansion projects and much needed infrastructure continue as a priority and will continue to be key to economic recovery. The efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19 have added many costs to ongoing construction activities. The CIC recognises that our industry’s rapid response to recovery will greatly aid our national economic recovery. We call on all our members to work collaboratively, to be pragmatic and decisive in order to create and continue construction momentum and to act reasonably in order to avoid disputes. Where disputes do arise, pertaining to the impact of Covid 19, again we ask for a reasonable and collaborative approach by the parties, using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), to resolve them fairly and quickly so as not to delay or add additional wasteful cost to projects. Thank you for your continuing commitment during these difficult times.