Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for allowing me to speak as a non-member of the committee. I deal with defects in apartments on a weekly basis. Mr. Prior communicated very well the feelings of anger, frustration and confusion when these things are discovered in an apartment block. I found that many of the apartment owners affected bought their flat as a starter home with the intention of going on to have a family. They are now in a one-bedroom apartment that they cannot sell. They either cannot start a family or are still tied to a one-bedroom flat. There are many hidden stories and I share the witnesses' frustration. I have raised this on every opportunity I have had but, while we have seen a pathway for mica and pyrite affecting building blocks in Donegal and Mayo and in south County Dublin, there is no pathway in this instance. I am delighted Mr. Prior mentioned NAMA. I was involved in several blocks where NAMA completed them because it needed to sell the apartments. I am also aware of other arms of the State that made financial contributions relating to defects in apartments, largely because we had them by the short and curlies.