Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's questions reflect the key point to the effect that on the issues that I have referred to regarding legacy construction issues, for both of those matters it did involve the standards of that time not being met, either in construction or in the use of raw materials. Of course, that is really relevant to the decisions that Government has to make.

On the Deputy's question regarding on how we then look at how we can recoup some of the cost, this has been a very challenging matter for the Government because, for example, when it comes to these construction issues, in many cases the companies that were involved in the work that gave rise to these issues are either no longer around or are no longer around in the same way or in the same form. This means that the State has to assume a higher cost.

I will make two final points. This is why it was worth having the debate and making a difference in bringing in the concrete levy. It may ultimately be at a value that is lower than I proposed. Nonetheless, having a measure like that in place for the many years that it will be in place brings in money that makes a difference. We should do that because it is a principle worth standing over. Second, it is why the work that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has under way regarding a new regulator in this area is going to be so important. That is something that I very much support. It is worth acknowledging, though, that looking at much of recent building that has taken place in Ireland for commercial and residential property, the standards for those building that are now required to be met are so different to where we were a number of years ago. That is a very positive development to ensure that there is less chance of a recurrence of these issues.