Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The residents of Longboat Quay, the development with which we are dealing, must now suffer the consequences of bad planning regulations, or a lack of such regulations and enforcement. Residents of such complexes have been exploited by Fianna Fáil developers, like Bernard McNamara and others, in the past. These are the same individuals who collapsed regeneration projects right across the city. The individual in question slithered off to England to escape from bankruptcy in Ireland. He is now back building in the city. He is the rebuilder of the former Canada House in St. Stephen's Green, which he is building on behalf of Denis O'Brien. There is the golden circle. Once again, the Government is facilitating that by not introducing proper legislation. It is interesting that Canada House may be the future headquarters of Irish Water.

Why has the Government not acted on the systematic failure of government and local authorities to follow up on reports that some of the complexes in this city and elsewhere throughout the country are too dangerous to live in? Why has no legislation been produced to address the problems with those buildings and help the victims? It is not just a question of Priory Hall as there are many similar buildings throughout the country. Another of which I am aware is Riverwalk Court in Ratoath. In Newbridge, six houses burnt down. The local authority identified that 90 houses had the same flaw, yet the onus is on the residents to fix it. In Gallery Quay, some of the residents have been forced out but, a year and a half later, there is still no move to do the remediation work required.

Does the Tánaiste agree the public, property owners, tenants and residents need a proper audit of all the properties built during the boom, particularly the docklands developments, but also others throughout the country, to ensure they are given a clean bill of health?

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