Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The residents and the 200 families in question feel deeply let down by the regulatory, planning, building control and fire safety systems, which allowed people to self-certify buildings that were grossly badly constructed and may be dangerous, frankly. We need to reassure them. I will come back to the original question I posed. Is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government concerned that people in these buildings could be in danger tonight and from now on? Can necessary actions be taken as a matter of urgency? Can buildings that are unfit for purpose be condemned? I commend the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the establishment of a working group on buildings infected by pyrites. It was a good move. It was the start of something for which I have been calling since the crisis started five or six years ago. Could something similar be done in the case of Priory Hall? I suggest that the Department could assist Dublin City Council to lead a set of actions that would make the building safe, reassure these citizens and rehouse them if necessary.

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