Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In his discussions with officials I ask that the Minister of State to go two steps further. The first is that in addition to some of the new nominating bodies he has mentioned, we seek to also have the following included: National Building Control Office - it makes no sense for that office not to be on the board; the Construction Defects Alliance; the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland; and the Irish Planning Institute. If these nominees were there instead of those from the registration body, which is the CIF, two things would be achieved. The issue of independence that Deputy O'Callaghan has quite rightly recognised would be dealt with and there would also be a better range of skills. I am not in any way opposed to somebody from the CIF having a place on the board. That would be reasonable and the federation has a contribution to make. That is provided for in my amendment. Allowing the CIF to have five members on the board and not having anybody from the other organisations that we have mentioned makes no sense. The Government has gone halfway towards what is required here, and I urge the Minister of State to have that discussion with the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, the Minister and their officials to see if we could go the full way so the board is fully independent, is seen to be independent, and has the requisite requirement of skills and organisations, which the combination of our amendments seeks to achieve.

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