Recent News

15 May 2012
EIFI PSA proposal

4 May 2012
President's letter to Members re Past and Planned Meetings

AECI on Electrical REA

Guidelines for Housing Authorities in the implementation of Minimum Standards in Rented Accommodation 2011

Contractual Training Seminar Invitation

Thursday 8th March 2012
Springfield Hotel, between Lucan & Leixlip
See Contractual Training Seminar

AECI Holidays 2011-2012

Letter to ECA concerning REA

Correspondence January 2012

Correspondence December 2011

Correspondence November 2011

Correspondence October 2011

Correspondence August 2011

Correspondence July 2011

Correspondence June 2011

Correspondence May 2011

Electrical REA

Correspondence April 2011

Correspondence March 2011

Correspondence February 2011

Correspondence January 2011

Correspondence December 2010

Correspondence November 2010

Correspondence October 2010

Correspondence September 2010

Correspondence August 2010

Correspondence July 2010

High Court Judgement on REA & Full Judgement Report

Correspondence May 2010

Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment Report

Important Information

Benefits for AECI members
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

AECI name removed from Electrical REA 15 May 2012

REA (Registered Employment Agreement ) as signed by TEEU (Technical Engineering and Electrical Union) and ECA (Electrical Contractors Association)
And note, with the AECI (Association Electrical Contractors of Ireland) name removed. see
AECI Name Removed from REA

AECI TRADE SHOW / CONFERENCE 15 SEPT 2012

3rd January 2012

Dear Members,

!!!IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

On 6th December 2012 we sent the information below to your emails as follows:
Please find below the AECI & ECA Joint Application to cancel the Electrical REA under Section 29 (3) of Industrial Relation Act 1946.
Section 29 (3)
Where a registered employment agreement does not provide for its duration or termination, the Court may, after the lapse of twelve months from the date of registration, cancel the registration on the application, made after six months' notice to the Court, of all parties thereto representative of workers or of employers.
The AECI have previously lodged an Application to cancel the REA under Section 29 (2) of Industrial Relation Act 1946 based on the Ballot of our Members taken in October 2010, however, with the support now of the ECA this recent Application should result in a speedier response.
Joint Application Re: Cancellation of REA

See also Letter to ECA concerning REA

6th December 2011

Dear Members,
At the recent meeting in the NSAI building the delegates from the AECI and many other Bodies in the Electrical Industry, i.e. ECA, NECI, ECSSA, RECI, ACEI etc. met to discuss
a) The implications of the planned training course
b) The content of the training course
c) The cost and duration of the training course and
d) Which Body should carry out the training course.
The stance taken by the AECI was that this training course in its present form was above and beyond the technical knowledge required to commission Emergency Lighting Systems and our feelings on this matter was strongly articulated.
This training course should now be suspended indefinitely and the NSAI should revert back to the I.S. 3217 Standards Committee with the many views put forward by the AECI and others.
We will keep you informed as this matter comes to a conclusion.

25th November 2011

Dear Members,
EPACE REPORTS LOSS IN 2010 ACCOUNTS
The Private Limited Company EPACE (Pensions and Conditions Electrical Limited Number 303017) has reported a €25,194 loss in its 2010 accounts which have recently been lodged with the CRO (Companies Registration Office). The accounts also show that EPACE received €163,343 from the CWPS (Construction Workers Pension Scheme), down from €210,699 in 2009. This payment is generated from the weekly 38 cent deductions from both employee and employer who contribute to the Construction Workers Pension Scheme.
Despite the loss of €25,194 the company paid out a total of €21,345 (Comprised of €17,345 for Labour Court Hearings and €4,000 for secretarial services) to the TEEU. The ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) also received €4,000. Wages, Social Welfare and pension costs for the two employees of EPACE amounted to a massive €98,066. The performance of the company in 2010 has eroded the amount of cash in hand in the bank from €918,814 in 2009 to €880,681 last year.
The accounts were signed off on 9th September 2011 by EPACE Director Eamonn Devoy of the TEEU and EPACE Director Joseph Conway of ECA. Joe Conway represents Jer Ryan Electrical Contractors (T/A JRE Engineering Group) A Receiver was appointed to the JRE Engineering Group in October 2011.

15th November 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,
Important information on changes to the Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) system from 1st January 2012. Please read carefully.

Revenue is introducing a mandatory electronic RCT system on 1st January 2012 for ALL principal contractors in the RCT system. There will be no paper RCT forms in future. To avoid any difficulties with paying subcontractors from 1/1/2012, you need to prepare for the new electronic system NOW.

From 1st January 2012, all contacts between a principal contractor and Revenue must be through an online process. You will be required to notify Revenue of details of all relevant contracts online. You will also be required to notify Revenue of each payment to a subcontractor (in advance of making the payment) to obtain confirmation on the amount of RCT, if any, to deduct from the payment. There will be three RCT rates: 0%, 20% and 35%.

What should you do to prepare for these changes?
You must be registered for the Revenue Online Service (ROS). Visit the Revenue website to register now. If you engage a tax advisor/agent/bookkeeper for RCT purposes they will need to be registered for ROS.

Principals with in-house software systems for RCT: Your system will have to be upgraded to cater for the new system. Ask your in-house technical experts or your software provider to visit the Revenue website for details (or email eRCTInfo@revenue.ie). If you are concerned about your ability to fully comply with the new RCT obligations by 1st January 2012, contact the RCT Section in this District immediately.

Visit the Revenue website (www.revenue.ie) to find out more about the new system and how Revenue will help you with the transition.

Information sessions:
Revenue may hold information sessions nationwide, depending on local demand. Some of these sessions have already been arranged. See the attached for details of venues and how to book your place at a session. Further sessions may be arranged. An online information session will also be available. Visit the Revenue website for details.

Revenue is also writing to subcontractors to inform them about the changes. If you also act as a subcontractor, you should download a copy of the letter from the Revenue website.

20th October 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,
Applications are invited for suitably qualified candidates for the position of:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE AECI

Applicants should have experience in: Electrical Contracting Industry; Industrial Relations,
PC literate and Marketing/Sales.

Replies by post or email before Friday 11th November 2011 to: Mr. Chris Lundy, AECI, Woodview Centre,
Main Street, Celbridge, Co. Kildare or email to: aeci@indigo.ie.

19th October 2011

LRC Letter

Ref: REA negotiations

Dear Chairman,
The AECI has in the past number of weeks pursued, at the request of the NJIC, and under your chairmanship, an attempt to reach agreement between all parties to a newly revised REA (Registered Employment Agreement) encompassing all clauses of that agreement and in particular the elements of wages and conditions.
A particular part of the discussion ranged around the issue of Non Compliancy within our Industry and to this end a separate meeting was arranged between all parties to the Agreement and NERA, the official body, charged by the Government with ensuring that wages and conditions of the REA are adhered to.
The delegates of this Association at the above meetings reported back to the Executive of the AECI on the 19th October 2011 and following careful consideration of the range and content of the discussions it has reached the following conclusion.
1. The Executive do not accept that the proposal put forward on the reduction in either;
a) Wages
b) Conditions of Employment, or
c) The methodology for setting such wages and conditions

is capable of meeting the requirements of our members and do not reflect the wage rates and conditions which are being paid by non compliant contractors and worked for by employees in the market place.
2. The Executive consider that the meeting with NERA in Carlow proved conclusively to them that the state agency NERA, at this point in time, is not in a position to defend our Members against the rates and conditions being applied both by Non Compliant Contractors and Non Compliant Electricians.
3. The Executive have therefore instructed their delegates to immediately cease these current negotiations and to pursue our Members instructions for the removal of the REA for this Industry

5th October 2011

Seminar on New BESS Registration Scheme for Emergency Lighting

The seminar at our Trade Show & Conference at Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny on Saturday 10th September 2011 was presented by Mr. Justin Tallon (NSAI).
The topic was the New BESS Registration Scheme for Emergency Lighting. This seminar had a lively exchange of views from the Electrical Contractors attending and defended it by Justin Tallon as to where the Registration Scheme is going. Please see below the link for pictures from the Seminar.
Seminar pictures
Trade Show pictures

29th August 2011

INVITATION TO AECI ANNUAL GOLF OUTING (9TH SEPTEMBER 2011)
SPONSORED BY ARACHAS AT KILKENNY GOLF CLUB
& ELECTRICAL TRADE SHOW (10TH SEPTEMBER 2011)
AT NEWPARK HOTEL IN KILKENNY

Dear Members, please see below the link for further details.
Joint Application Re: Cancellation of REA

18th August 2011

LRC Meeting

AECI were called to a meeting on 17th August 2011 in the LRC (Labour Relations Commission) by Kevin Foley with other Electrical Bodies with regard to Electrical REA (Registered Employment Agreement). A further set of meetings is planned in August and September 2011 and these meetings will lead up to a proposed date (late September) for our Hearing re REA in the Labour Court. Presently we are putting the final touches to the AECI Submissions to argue our point in favour of the cancellation of the REA under Section 29 (2) of the Industrial Relation Act 1946.

12th July 2011

Correspondence

Dear Members,
1. Please see link for the AECI Holidays 2011-2012
AECI Holidays 2011-2012
2. AECI Trade Show 2011 in Kilkenny
Bookings of accommodation and Golf to be sent to our office as soon as possible.
3. AECI Subscriptions 2011
Thanks to all who have paid the 2011 Subscriptions and a reminder to those who have not yet paid, to do so as soon as possible. If you have difficulties with payments, please contact our office for arrangement.

7th July 2011

Court rules JLC wage system 'unconstitutional'

Dear Members,
Please see below the links for further information.

see

RTE - Court rules JLC wage system 'unconstitutional'
Irish Examiner - Fast-food operators win High Court case against JLCs
Irish Times - Court rules for fast-food companies
Ruling - Labour Court 7th July 2011

1st July 2011

Introduction of a second Reduced VAT Rate with effect from 1st July2011

Dear Members,

The minister for finance has announced that a second reduced Vat rate of 9% will be introduced in respect of certain goods and services (mainly related to tourism) for the period 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2013. The 9% rate applies to restaurant and catering services; hotel and holiday accommodation; museums and art gallery exhibitions; fairgrounds or amusement park services; the use of sporting facilities; hairdressing services; printed matter such as brochures, maps, programmes, leaflets, catalogues and newspapers.

This measure will be provided for in the forthcoming Finance (No.2) Bill 2011.

Supplies of goods and services at the new 9% rate:

• The supply of food and drink (excluding alcohol and soft drinks) in the course of catering or by means of a vending machine
• Hot take-away food and hot drinks
• Hotel lettings, including guesthouses, caravan parks, camping sites etc
• Admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums, art gallery exhibitions
• Amusement services of the kind normally supplied in fairgrounds or amusement park services
• The provision of facilities for taking part in sporting activities by a person other than a non-profit making organisation
• Printed matter e.g. newspapers, brochures, leaflets, programmes, maps, catalogues, printed music (excluding books)
• Hairdressing services (Note: beauty treatments:- for example, facials, massages, nail treatments, tanning or sunbed services etc., remain liable at the 13.5% rate)
Anything not listed in the supplies of good and services at the new 9% rate will remain at 13.5%

If you would like further detail on these matters, please contact Valerie Cronin on 01-6217050 on vcronin@fmaccountants.ie to discuss your situation further

Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular facts pertaining to a specific set of circumstances.

5th June 2011

Revenue eBrief No. 34/11

Dear Members,

Changes to the operation of Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT)
Revenue has published Information Note No. 3 which provides further details on the new RCT scheme and outlines the main benefits for principals and subcontractors.

Commencement

The new scheme will be subject to a commencement order to be signed by the Minister for Finance but is expected to be introduced on 1st January 2012. Principal contractors will be able to register contracts on-line in the new scheme from 28th November 2011 ("contract registration"). This will be the only part of the new scheme that will be accessible prior to 1st January 2012.

Mandatory electronic communication

All contacts between principals (or agents acting on their behalf) and Revenue will be through an on-line process. Information Note No. 3 outlines the various options for interacting with Revenue. As the new scheme will be paperless, the administration burden on principals will be reduced. Principals will need to ensure they are registered for the Revenue On-Line Service (ROS) before the new scheme is introduced.
As outlined in eBrief No. 32/2011, in keeping with Revenue's commitment to reducing the regulatory burden on business, we do not propose to place a burden on Phase 3 Mandatory eFiling taxpayers to develop the capability to electronically file the annual RCT 35 return form for the reporting period 2011. Revenue will accept all RCT 35 returns on paper for periods up to 31/12/2011 from any principal contractor who has been informed that they are mandated to file returns and make payments electronically to us. We would of course, prefer if the return was made electronically using ROS.

RCT rates

In the new scheme, the standard RCT rate will be 20% (currently 35%). While it is expected that most subcontractors will qualify for either the 0% or 20% RCT rate, in certain limited cases subcontractors will be placed at 35% e.g. subcontractors who are not registered with Revenue or where there are serious compliance issues that need to be addressed. However, once these subcontractors register with Revenue and/or satisfactorily address their compliance issues, they can request a review of their RCT rate (via ROS or by contacting their Revenue District). The criteria for qualifying for the 0% or 20% rates are outlined in the legislation.
Questions/comments on the new scheme
A special email address has been set up to encourage stakeholders to send Revenue their comments and questions on the new scheme (eRCTInfo@revenue.ie). Although it will not be possible to reply to individual questions, we will provide answers to the main questions being raised by stakeholders in the frequently asked questions (FAQs) which will be published on our website.
Further information on the new scheme can also be accessed at:
• Finance Bill (Section 20) 2011
• eBrief No. 12/2011
• Revenue website - Changes to RCT System