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

I move amendment No. 29:

In page 36, line 8, after “section 43” to insert “including latent defects insurance”.

This amendment is concerned with the registration process and what the applicant needs to furnish to the board as part of the application for registration. There is a list of different items that applicants have to furnish and this amendment seeks to include in the section that refers to indemnity, which reads "evidence that the applicant holds minimum levels of indemnity specified under section 43," that the applicant would have to have latent defects insurance. One of the big issues with all of the problems we have had with building defects has been the lack latent defects insurance. It is not the entire solution to the problems but is one of them. It is part of the solution because if builders or contractors are doing shoddy work and are getting into difficulties, they are not going to be able to get latent defects insurance. No one will insure them if they keep making mistakes for which they have to pay out. It is quite an effective method of getting some of the people who have been causing havoc out of the system altogether, as they should be. It is not the entire solution but it is certainly part of it. If we adopted this as part of the criteria for registration, it would help us to get some of the way we need to go in terms of sorting all of these problems out.