Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Legislation is due and it is an important issue. In late 2006 and early 2007 the Law Reform Commission published a consultation paper on the multi-unit developments. It drew attention to the broad range of issues of governance and operation of the developments. It is complex because it involves more than one area. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform chairs a Cabinet committee, which includes the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the company law sections of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Attorney General to deal with these cross-cutting issues. I thought it could be addressed with one Bill by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government but it involves company law, consumer protection and the development of regulatory structures. We are trying to make progress on all fronts but it could require three legislative measures from three Departments to get this correct. They are working on it, using the Law Reform Commission's document as the base to do this. We are pushing it because it should be done. I do not disagree with the argument Deputy Burton makes.

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