Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

Let me put it that I know the form and I will say no more about it. I seek clarification on the matter of 25% before the Minister of State forces a vote. Even if the amendment is not passed the Bill is not as clear as people believe because it does not lend the right to people who walk in off the street to buy an apartment, as Deputy Lynch remarked. My understanding of the Bill from Committee Stage is that 25% of tenants of any complex must sign up to enter the scheme and that there would be a plebiscite of the tenants in a given local authority scheme. Such people might receive a ballot paper indicating if they are in favour of buying out the apartment. Some people may not fill in such forms and others may believe they are being forced to buy the apartments because of such a process. They might not vote or indicate they have no interest in buying the apartments. Such people might take the view that if they voted "Yes" they would be forced to buy the apartment. We should clarify the matter of 25% as well. What is the position if 25% of the people in any complex do not vote? I understand 25% was the figure mentioned on Committee Stage and I call on the Minister to clarify the matter. The proposal may be null and void in such circumstances and no one in such a complex would then be allowed to buy an apartment. It is a very serious matter for the tenants and if only 15% or 20% of them wish to buy out the apartments in a complex such people should be allowed to do so.

See this speech in context