The surprise appointment of Tom Parlon as director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) will be welcomed by an industry that's facing difficult times ahead.

With as good contacts in Government as with the builders themselves, Parlon will be a strong voice for what is the biggest employer in the country with a turnover last year of €7 billion. However, he will earn his €250,000 salary given that the housebuilding industry has got problems coming down the tracks, with output falling and today's news that faulty building materials have been discovered on several sites in Dublin. The timing couldn't be worse, given the downturn in sales and the dwindling confidence in the market.

Liam Kelleher, who headed up the CIF for the past 15 years, proved a strong leader through the boom years. Parlon, who was an equally able leader of Irish Farmers Association, was headhunted for the job because of his trouble-shooting skills and political savvy. Now, with the silly season well under way, he can expect to be busy as the media continues to focus on the problems facing the property industry.