Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cowen for his presentation. Sinn Féin supports the legislation, as we outlined on Second Stage. We have had several discussions at this committee about this issue, particularly when we were examining the vacant homes strategy.

As Deputy Cowen pointed out, a range of organisations including industry experts, homelessness organisations and others have strongly advocated such a vehicle and it is very welcome. It is to be particularly welcomed if we are able to get the Bill through the Oireachtas in a timely fashion because it could be a very valuable tool not alone in terms of vacant housing stock, but for over-the-shop commercial units that are such a blight on our towns and urban centres and provide huge opportunities for residential stock and, in particular, affordable stock in rural town centres and large urban areas in cities such as Cork and Dublin. On that basis, we are happy to support the Bill. If the objective is to speed up the return of such units, we must scrutinise the issue of standards and safety to the best of our ability. Deputy Cowen made it very clear on Second Stage and again today that there is no intention or desire in the legislation to in any way compromise on safety and standards but we would be doing a service to the legislation and the committee if we scrutinised that aspect to the best of our ability.

The Department will present at second phase and the first of the two main concerns it will outline is the shift away from compliance with the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations, BCAR, system as it currently stands. It has raised concerns in regard to exemptions for fire safety and disability certificates and what it calls a kind of alternative building control system in respect of structure, fire, ventilation, stairs, energy efficiency and accessibility. It also raised a concern in regard to the subdivision of units being exempt from planning permission. In advance of the Department coming before the committee, I ask Deputy Cowen to give us a detailed response on how he sees the text of the legislation and its enactment responding to those concerns and not in any way undermining building standards or safety, in particular fire safety, because that is the crucial issue for the committee today.