Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While Deputy Murphy was talking I was trying to do something about it. I am the first Minister to deal with this legacy issue in the Department and the first person to do something about it. I got to the root of the issue by bringing everybody together through the pyrite panel. Nobody had done anything about this until I became Minister. The Deputy talked about practicalities; I can impose a levy in the morning but it will take about six to eight months before it starts to accrue into any meaningful fund. I want to get a fund in place immediately to start work now. A substantial fund is required to get that under way. I want to get the people who are responsible for causing this problem for the homeowners affected to be part of the solution. I can impose a levy but I cannot legally force them to do anything like that. I have asked them to come forward voluntarily. I have made progress, which I am reporting to this committee, on providing an immediate fund and an operational plan that can do something for those affected, particularly the people who are very badly affected.

The Deputy also mentioned the testing protocol, which we will have by Christmas. It has to have the necessary oversight of the National Standards Authority of Ireland, otherwise it would not stand up in any legal process if legal action was taken in due course. We would not otherwise have the necessary people in place to sign off on the proper implementation of any remediation programme. I am doing what I can but I do not mind waiting another few days to get this right on a voluntary basis in order to make progress for those affected.