Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I cannot hear myself with these Deputies talking. They complain that they do not have enough time but then they waste it heckling. I compliment the motion and the Green Party, particularly Deputy Catherine Martin, on tabling it.

One of the main features of the problem is the terms of the existing regulatory framework. I refer to the dangerous imbalance that may exist between the right of a family or an individual to a safe and protected home and the interests of those who may have developed the property without the necessary due diligence to serve that right.

We had a boom and a bust and we now have very bad houses. Unfortunately, the tragedy in England brings it home to us. There are too many regulations affecting ordinary people trying to build a house on their own. They are going to build their house to proper standards anyway and have the work properly supervised because they are spending their own money. The problem is with the quick fix, the quick buck. The county councils have to take their share of responsibility. There are housing estates in Tipperary that are disastrous. They were not and are not subject to enforcement policies.

I compliment Deputy John Paul Phelan on his appointment to his new role as Minister of State. I am sure Kilkenny will be in safe hands now and Waterford will not be able to take any bit of it away from it. I look forward to the Minister of State reinvigorating local government after his big colleague, the big bully, former Minister Big Phil, destroyed local democracy.

I wish to put a question or challenge to the Minister of State and the Minister. I am informed that Dublin Fire Brigade, and all the fire brigades, have a maximum height capacity of 37 m. We are talking about building high-rise buildings up to 60 and 70 m. We have such buildings. This is an accident waiting to happen. This is a very serious point put to me by fire brigade personnel. I ask the Minister to check this out and ensure that we have equipment to reach all parts of buildings in Dublin safely. I do not want to be scaremongering but I am interested in protecting life.

I compliment Deputy Catherine Martin. It is not that the county councils are building houses. Mine did not build any last year or the year before. What are they doing? Why are they carrying out these inspections? I ask the Minister and Minister of State, just as I asked their predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, to call in the county managers and make them account for their actions. They are well enough paid to do the job and they are not serving the public.

See this speech in context