Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the section, as I outlined in my speech last night, it has been incumbent on the Minister, in the three years he has held office, to ensure that the construction sector and the allied insurance, financial and construction supply sectors all took direct responsibility for what had happened to these householders, and he should have found a mechanism. He told us repeatedly, through the pyrite panel process and all the consultations, that that was precisely what he would do. As I stated, he had it on the clár at this session that he would come forward with a levy on the sector.

This scandal of pyrite-damaged homes, as I also stated last night, is reminiscent of the scale of the scandal in the banking sector. It was incumbent on the Minister to face up to the powerful vested interests who seemed to be opposed to providing funding under this area rather than allowing it to become merely an Exchequer cost, as is now emerging.

I repeat my call on the Minister, who has backed away. It is a little like what the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, did with Mr. Trichet. I do not think Deputy Noonan even eyeballed him on banking. He says he did but I do not really think he did. He merely backed down and did what he was told. Unfortunately, the same is the case with this Minister. Deputy Hogan has allowed the powerful vested interest, represented in this House, unfortunately, by his own party and, in particular, Fianna Fáil, to tell this House what to do, and it is disgraceful.

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