John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies for their contribution to the debate. It is clear the Government's objective of ensuring fair, efficient and effective management of bodies responsible for the management of common areas in multi-unit developments which the proposals in the Bill are designed to achieve are broadly shared on all sides of the House. While Deputies were broadly supportive of the Bill's objectives, several detailed issues were also raised. These can be considered in the required detail on Committee Stage in due course.

Some references were made to the delay in bringing forward the Bill. However, this is a complex Bill including aspects of property, company and planning law and, as such, it required extensive consultation between various Departments and stakeholders. The Government's objective has always been to bring forward the most comprehensive legislation possible which would benefit owners of apartments in new and existing developments. I believe this objective is being met through the Bill.

Deputies Terence Flanagan, Pat Rabbitte, Michael Kennedy and Leo Varadkar raised issues of completion. One of the issues discussed at some length in the Seanad was completion of common areas of multi-unit developments. This arises under three headings: compliance with planning permission under the Planning and Development Acts; compliance with building control standards under the Building Control Acts; and the snagging of internal and external common areas.

It is fair to say snagging is a complex issue.

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