Results 3,481-3,500 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: Ms Hone is eating into other people's time. If she wishes to do that, it is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. Go ahead Ms Hone, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I do not wish to cut Ms Hone short but I am trying to keep everybody to six minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Cleary. I now invite Ms Healy from the Mayo group, who is online.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Hegarty. I apologise, as I believe I called her by the wrong name when I invited her to contribute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: We only have two minutes remaining, so I do not think we will get three replies. Will someone reply on behalf of the homeowners?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: In its opening statement, Engineers Ireland noted that "some engineers are of the opinion that IS 465 is not fit for purpose". Is that the view of Engineers Ireland and, if so, has that been relayed to the Minister or the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Mac Lochlainn asked a similar question. The standard allows the testing for mica and pyrite but does not allow for testing for other, potentially deleterious materials. That is the contention from some members of Engineers Ireland but has the organisation officially relayed to the Minister, the Department or any of the expert groups that, in its expert opinion as a group involved in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: Representatives of the NSAI will be attend the committee's next session and I have no doubt that question will be put to them. I will now turn to the representative groups. While those who are so closely involved in this, for example, people living in counties Clare, Donegal and Mayo, know the ins and outs of the issue, other people in the rest of the country are less closely involved. A...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry to interrupt Ms Hegarty but she gave two figures, one of €25,000 for rent and storage and a second of maybe €20,000 for engineers. She said, up to €100,000 would be spent. How is the rest of that figure made up? Where does it come from?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are just out of time on that but I have a quick question to SCSI. The figures presented in its document are to build to a 2008 standard and not to 2021 standards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will clarify that. I cannot allow witnesses to question other witnesses but perhaps a member will ask that question. I am out of time so I must be fair. I will move to the Independent slot and ask Deputy McHugh to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is Ms Hone referring to untested foundations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Hone. I understand Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Broin are going to share this slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Cleary. That concludes this session. We will start the next session shortly. I thank all the witnesses for their attendance and I apologise for having to restrict contributions. I think I was equally strict and annoying with everybody. We will start the next session in five minutes. The witnesses are welcome to remain in the Visitors' Gallery for that session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: The purpose of this second session is to consider the defective blocks scheme regulations and the review of IS 465. From the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we are joined by: Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant secretary; Mr. Koen Verbruggen, director of Geological Survey Ireland; Mr. Derek Rafferty, principal officer; and Mr. John Wickham, senior adviser in building...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Ó Coigligh. I now invite Mr. Kelly and I ask him to keep to about five minutes. It would be much appreciated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Kelly and invite Ms Larkin of the NSAI to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Defective Block Scheme Regulations and Review of IS 465: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Larkin. We will move to members now who will take six-minute slots. Because we started late, I am going to go to 12.50 p.m. with this meeting. Senator Fitzpatrick is first for the Fianna Fáil slot.