Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As stated, the unfolding tragedy of Priory Hall was brought home with real force to the entire country with the emotional interview of Stephanie Meehan on the “Late Late Show” and by the sad death of her partner, Fiachra Daly, in July. Over the past two years, the stresses and strains of the disaster of Priory Hall have been taking a considerable toll on all of the 250 people evacuated from the building. Their dire circumstances have been a sad reflection on the Government's inaction. The collapse of Mr. Justice Finnegan's mediation process, as alluded to by Deputy Broughan, marked another blow to their hopes of a fair resolution.

This morning during Leaders' Questions, the Tánaiste indicated that the Government will finally ensure the Priory Hall situation will be resolved within the 21 days, as indicated last week. I understand that officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government have been instructed to meet Dublin City Council, the Irish Banking Federation, NAMA, former residents and other stakeholders and to report back with a proposed resolution. After two years of failure to act, during which the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government refused consistently to meet the residents affected by these dire circumstances, can he state categorically today that we are now to have real, decisive action in the form of a resolution, as proposed by the relevant parties, 21 days from the date the meeting was announced last week? Will the Government force the banks to write off the mortgages of the residents? Will the Minister meet them? What is the future of the complex itself? Is the Minister committed to having a suitable resolution, agreed to by all parties, go to the Government three weeks from the relevant date last week?

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