Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do appreciate that people want a quick outcome and that many of them are really worried about the future of their homes. The issue is being moved along as quickly as it can be. These are hugely complex matters with, yet again, huge amounts of money on which the State must make a decision.

I am very much aware of the debate that we have just had on mica, and all of the issues that developed and generated. Unfortunately, these are issues that we must confront again in terms of apartment defects. My Department has a presence on the working group that is evaluating the different recommendations that have been brought forward. We will play a constructive role in trying to bring this work to a close because I know of people who are being directly affected by it myself and I am very much aware of the stress and difficulty that they are facing. My officials have informed me that the timeline to complete the evaluation work is the end of this year. So the aim is that the Minister will have received the report from the working group. That will give him an assessment of the options that were recommended to him, and maybe provide some guidance on how we can bring this work, and this matter, to a better place.

On the general point that Deputy Boyd Barrett raised with me regarding changing the mandate of NAMA and my playing a role within it, I am afraid on this particular matter I very respectfully disagree with Deputy Boyd Barrett. I really believe that even in the most difficult of circumstances, such as this particular issue, it is a very slippery slope for allowing the Minister to be involved in issuing directions or being involved in particular commercial decisions. I do not believe that there is actually anything that would merit that happening. It believe that it is far better if these matters are dealt with independently by an independent board given the huge amounts of money and conflicting interests that are at stake that NAMA has to manage. That being said, as I said to Deputy Nash a moment ago, the work that is trying to move this difficult project forward should be complete and shared with the Minister by the end of the year.