Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am worried there could be sliding degradation of a building as somebody carries out temporary works because of water ingress, vandalism or people getting into the building. Such a building could be going into dereliction before our eyes over ten, 15, 20 years or longer. Subsection 281(5) allows a person to carry out such works, notwithstanding their other obligations under the Act. My concern is that this may enable an owner to keep relying on the defence that the works are for the temporary safeguarding of the structure. If I had a protected structure I did not want to do anything with, I would be looking to subsection (5) as my get-out card for doing nothing with the structure other than another bit of temporary work.