Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I acknowledge the difficult situation that homeowners affected by pyrite problems have had to deal with over the past few years. While I have said many times that the State is not responsible for the pyrite problem, I believe I have a duty to assist in trying to facilitate a resolution and this was one of my key objectives in setting up the independent Pyrite Panel. My focus is to ensure the recommendations in the pyrite report are implemented in a way that delivers effective solutions for the affected homeowners.

The pyrite report provides a comprehensive framework to move forward and make progress towards providing solutions to what is a complex problem. I thank the members of the Pyrite Panel, chaired by Mr. Touhy, and all the stakeholders who engaged with it, including Mr. Lewis and other representative groupings in the northside of Dublin and in other counties. We now have a comprehensive picture of, rather than speculative figures on, the nature of the problem.

The report comments on the lack of engagement by stakeholders with homeowners in providing effective solutions for homeowners. It recommends the constructive engagement by the key stakeholders, including the construction and quarrying sector, insurance industry and banking and mortgage providers, in processes that will lead to a resolution for homeowners. Immediately on receipt of the panel's report, I met the key stakeholders and outlined to them my preferred option for a solution to the pyrite problem and the role I believe they should play in the resolution process.

Mindful of the difficult situations faced by affected homeowners and of the time they have waited for a resolution to the pyrite problem until I set up the panel, I set a tight deadline of the end of September for the stakeholders to come back to me with their proposals. There are still five days to go and I live in hope that they will come back with the proposals.

See this speech in context