Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was listening to Ms McNelis regarding her mother being locked into the contract of owning her house and that she is locked into a contract so cannot sell it. I am thinking outside the box. As the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications will enforce the law on listed buildings, should it have the capability to instruct insurance companies to insure the buildings? An appeals mechanism for driving licences exists. I am not aware of anything in the Department to tackle this. Mr. Darby speaks about protecting heritage and paying extortionate money for house insurance at the behest of any insurer. It is absolutely ludicrous. Does a European insurance exist? What is done in other countries? Are limits set?

I take all of the witnesses' concerns on board. I am delighted that they have the opportunity to speak to the committee today because people might not be aware of the situation. I thank the witnesses for that.