Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

With respect, the question was not answered. The question was twofold. Why is the standard in the building regulations deemed to be inadequate vis-À-vis the standard put forward by Premier Insurance? The Minister's answer was that it has a different standard from us. It has a higher standard and surely we, as the guardians of householders, should stand by the highest standards.

The second part of the question was what will the Minister do about it. Will he rectify the building regulations to take account of this? I assume the answer to that is "No". The Department and previous Governments have a responsibility in this regard.

I welcome the fact the Minister has set up a committee and we will participate in, and work with, it. However, the solution must come from the Minister's Department as well because otherwise the builders, quarry owners, the local authorities and everybody will be at each other's throats. There must be a lead from the front and this must be rectified for the future and the building regulations must be changed. If the standards are not good enough for Premier Insurance, they should not be good enough for Irish citizens.

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