Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

That is one of the problematic clauses. Actually, perhaps it is not problematic. It may have suited its purposes at the time, but perhaps we have moved on since then and now need to address it.

We have discussed the issue of two staircases, one staircase with sprinklers, etc. When carrying out a risk assessment, one considers the likelihoods and impacts. If we were to remove combustible fuels from buildings by getting rid of open fires and gas cookers and by going all electric instead, that would reduce some of the fire risk. I am referring in particular to converting commercial centres' second storeys and above for living over the shop. When making a risk-based assessment, can the fact that there will be no fossil fuels – gas, coal or oil – and it will be all electric be taken into account? Would that reduce the risk and, consequently, some of the measures that would have to be taken?