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

I thank the Minister of State. As he knows, these regulations are crucial to ensure fire safety and human safety in buildings, particularly in multi-unit buildings. The guidelines are 16 years old and the nature of building has changed comprehensively since then with buildings such as the children's hospital, apartments and nursing homes etc. I am deeply concerned that of the 80 appeals on fire safety certificates that have gone to An Bord Pleanála in the past five years requiring, for example, sprinkler systems in multi-unit developments, nursing homes and commercial car parks, 90% of those were overturned by the board, resulting, in my view, in dramatically reduced fire safety. The problem is the 2006 regulations do not require sprinkler systems even though they are absolutely best practice. I am also concerned there will be a tug between the viability of buildings and the fire safety of buildings.

Will the Minister of State give an absolute commitment that fire safety and human safety will be the single overriding important factor in these regulations? Will he engage constructively with the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this matter during the process?

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