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

I wish to make just a quick comment. There is a bit of a contradiction here. We are being told that the Construction Industry Federation is the appropriate body to run the statutory register because of its experience of running the voluntary register. That is valid. At the same time, we are being told that we cannot read anything into the fact that nobody has been struck off, because it is a voluntary register and most of the people who apply to be on it are more likely to be compliant. By its very nature and the explanation the Minister of State has given us of the voluntary register, he has explained to us how the experience of enforcing compliance is lacking in a body running a voluntary register. He has clearly made the case therefore as to why running a voluntary register does not give a body a lot of experience with enforcement and compliance issues. As we know, the National Building Control Office has significant experience relating to building control, enforcement, and compliance because that is its skill set. That is what it does. The case for the National Building Control Office rather than the Construction Industry Federation is incredibly clear. The Minister of State has helped to make that case as well in his comments.