Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today, the Not Our Fault campaign group will stage a 24-hour protest outside Leinster House. Its members were also in the audiovisual room today and I was glad to join them earlier. I pay tribute to them and to the Construction Defects Alliance for their advocacy. I will ask two specific questions on their behalf. Last week, the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, spoke on a Topical Issue debate on construction defects related to the key issue of fire safety. This is an issue that was anxiously anticipated by those living in unsafe Celtic tiger-era homes. A new fire safety code of practice to be published is expected to recommend better fire alarms and safety equipment in advance of the remediation scheme. The Minister of State said the code would be published in the coming weeks. Will it be published before the House rises in July?

My second question relates to the out-of-pocket payments that have been made by so many for remediation works at huge personal expense. I wrote on this subject to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, in March on behalf of constituents.

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