Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It would be helpful to hear the Minister of State's rationale. Deputy Ó Broin's amendment is very good but my amendment comes at this from a different point of view. It does not name the public agency that would be involved but it would confine it to a public agency, which I think makes sense. We have not heard the rationale from the Minister of State as to why he thinks it is necessary to include in the legislation the possibility that the registration body could be an organisation such as the CIF. In fact, the specific lines in the Bill are written in such a way as to ensure the CIF meets the criteria but another body may not. Those lines are quite specific in that regard. Why, for instance, must the body to be designated the registration body have been in existence for a continuous period of not less than ten years? That certainly rules the CIF in. What is the rationale for this legislation barring a body that has only existed for five years but is totally competent? What is the rationale for that? Why does it have to be a body corporate which is not a company but has not fewer than 300 members? It is quite detailed and seems to specifically set out criteria that the CIF happens to fit. Why is that necessary? Given that my amendment does not name a specific public body but would mean that it must be a public body, why is there an objection to my amendment? Certainly the Attorney General's advice about not naming a particular body does not cover that. I would like to believe that what Deputy Ó Broin was saying is not the case and no such deal on this issue was done years ago. It would be useful for us to get confirmation, if possible, that is not the case. We need an explanation as to why this wide approach is being taken when there is a really good public body that could be doing this job.

The NBCO has considerable expertise. It comprises a small group of people and that needs to be increased and beefed up. However, it is playing a very valuable role. It plays a value-added role in what it does in terms of building control and the knowledge and expertise it is helping to spread between local authorities and building control authorities. I am at a loss as to why that is not the route being taken or earmarked in this legislation.