Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that the expert panel be constructed properly and have the expertise necessary to deal with and investigate the problem comprehensively. The Deputy will accept and agree with that. I expect the chairperson to have considerable experience in communications, negotiation and other fields relating to solving complex problems. This is a very complex problem in so far as it affects families. I have met the families and noted they are very distressed. We need to have a structural engineer and geologist, and possibly a standards expert, on the panel to identify the problem.

Although the Deputy might legitimately be critical of the delay in setting up the expert panel, he should note I have been engaging continuously on this matter since it was first brought to my attention. One of the first steps I took was to visit the affected houses to see them at first hand. I personally asked the Irish Concrete Federation and other bodies to determine whether they would mediate with some of the suppliers we believe were involved. Some progress was made in this regard initially but then everything just stopped, unfortunately, and there was no further progress. There were efforts to assist in the normal way through mediation and other means. The decision on the expert panel has now been taken, as acknowledged and welcomed by the Deputy. The panel will investigate the problem properly and advise the Minister and make recommendations to him on the next course of action.

I cannot speculate on redress, as the Deputy will acknowledge. The builders' and suppliers' products that may be defective need to be analysed in the first instance.

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