Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in and, in particular, for sharing their personal stories. I noted to Ms Kelly that it is not an easy thing because we are in this room and other people are watching. I am sure the NDFA is watching. The Chairman talked about a number of options for the committee, albeit we cannot instruct. There is a terrible mess here and the consequences are clearly wider than issues of hard cash. There are risks of job losses and risks to family businesses. We have heard the personal testimonies. The solution is simple. The NDFA must be assured that the works carried out meet the requirements of building control legislation. There is no way it can assure itself of that without the subcontractors certifying those works. The NDFA needs to revisit this and make it clear to Woodvale that the only way this can be done is by re-engaging with the subcontractors, having the works completed if they are not completed and getting the certification from the subcontractors. That will mean every subcontractor gets paid which will, in turn, bring an end to their financial and personal misery. It will take us until next week to put all this together, but if the NDFA is listening now, I urge it to waste no time engaging with Woodvale on that course of action.