Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all three delegations to the committee on this important topic, especially as we embark again on an ambitious building programme. I support CIRI because it is a registration process designed to promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance. That, in combination with BCAR, can certainly enhance consumer protection with regards to the construction industry.

Having said that, it is important to learn from the mistakes from the past in terms of standards in building and compliance. There have been well-publicised failures in the construction industry, such as Priory Hall and the Dublin docklands apartments, as well as pyrite and now the mica issues in counties Donegal and Mayo. During the last big freeze, it was discovered utilities were buried at insufficient depths in the ground causing freezing pipes and so forth which caused significant problems for consumers. With no disrespect to the organisations before the committee, professional engineers, architects and quantity surveyors signed off on these developments. It came as a severe disappointment, as policy makers, to see how consumers were abandoned at that time and are still abandoned when it comes to mica and pyrite issues. That is why I welcome CIRI.

There are builders at fault where substandard work has been done. I argue, however, that professionals who signed off on such substandard work are also rogue and need to be taken to task as well. How will CIRI impact on dealing with rogue builders and professionals who sign off on substandard work? How do the individual organisations propose to ensure they retain standards of professional competency in their organisations? Sanctions were mentioned in one of the presentations where a person found to be incompetent is removed from the relevant professional register. Is that enough? Should there be financial sanctions or penalties and fines imposed?

It was also mentioned that there is no financial redress for consumers under the legislation as currently drafted, and providing additional insurance cover for substandard work may need to be revisited. Will the delegations expand on those points? Many consumers to date have been left in the lurch by inadequate insurance or by professionals or builders not held to account. How will CIRI change that? It is important to have a register of competent builders and professionals. However, it is not good enough that the sanction is that one is removed from a register, yet the consumer is left in the lurch again. What other sanctions will work to enhance standards and competency?

What is the impact of cost? We often hear the costs of new build houses or apartments are a barrier to development happening. What will be the cost impact of this new regulation? I hope it will not be another barrier and will fit seamlessly into current costs.

My final question pertains to inspections. We heard recently from the Department of Education and Skills about problems with relatively new school builds. It is now proposed to have a clerk of works on all new school builds. What are the delegation's views on bringing back independent clerks of works on all substantial building projects over a certain size to monitor and ensure adherence to standards?