Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

When the Cathaoirleach was speaking, it came back to me that in my time as a councillor 20 years ago, I had a disagreement with the Department over the partitions between apartments. In one major development in my constituency, there is an apartment complex where the apartments are separated by plasterboard. I argued this with the Department. I am not a construction expert, although I worked in construction and know a little about it. The Department came back with all sorts of answers. I could not see how two plaster slabs could stop a fire quicker than a 6-inch or 9-inch block. The Department informed me that it was going to continue to allow this to happen. It should be clarified with the Department. Is it still accepting the separation of apartments with plaster slabs?