John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 18:

In page 9, to delete lines 57 to 59 and in page 10, to delete lines 1 to 19 and substitute the following:

"(xi) that all new building, or existing buildings in respect of which an extension or a material alteration has been made, shall not be opened, operated or occupied or permitted to be opened, operated or occupied, unless a fire safety certificate and disability access certificate (or, as the case may require, a revised or regularised certificate of either kind) has been granted by the building control authority;".

I am standing in for my colleague Deputy Cuffe, who tabled this amendment. The aim of this amendment is clear and this is something we feel strongly about. We have higher standards than elsewhere in the European Union and this has something to do with our experience of the Stardust fire. A fire safety certificate is a requirement for any alteration and any new building. I see that the Minister of State is nodding in agreement and hope he will accept this amendment.

The same applies to disability access. I hosted a colleague from the Belgian Green Party recently and he felt that the level of access to this building for the disabled, particularly Leinster House 2000, is not bad. Elsewhere in the city there were difficulties and we have a great deal of catching up to do. If we want equality we must start with our buildings. So much of what can be achieved in this regard is contained in this type of legislation. It is important that we do not ignore the issue, that we start with the basics and I ask the Minister of State, on principle, to accept these amendments. They make sense in terms of safety and equality.

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