Results 8,161-8,180 of 15,009 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I was a bit perplexed when I read section 18. In addition to responding to the amendments, I will ask the Minister of State to clarify some aspects of that section for my benefit, if not for the benefit of anybody else. It states: "The registration body may arrange with any person to assist it, the Board or a committee of the Board, in the proper discharge of its functions." Obviously, the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is helpful. So that we are clear on the procedural rules, perhaps it would be helpful if the Minister of State gave a practical example. The example he gave in respect of section 18(1) was clear - the board may require certain kinds of professional supports - but what types of procedural rules are we discussing? I presume the officials have a specific understanding.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Give us an example so that we are clear.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: On that basis, I am happy to withdraw the first of my amendments, but I will revert to the second in a moment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 9: In page 17, line 16, after “may” to insert “following consultation with the Minister and the Oireachtas”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 12: In page 18, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “(10) The registration body shall seek the views of the relevant Oireachtas Committee on its annual report in person or in writing as requested by that Committee.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 13: In page 18, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(f) establishment of a statutory skills register;”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 14: In page 18, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(f) accessing the National Training Fund for upskilling construction sector workforce;”. This is one of the amendments that we do not expect the Minister of State will accept but it gives us an opportunity to raise an important issue that is relevant to the Bill. If the Minister of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am sorry; I did not realise they were grouped. I will speak to amendment No. 15 very briefly. Amendment No. 15 is for me a really significant omission from the Bill. The absence in the code of practice of adherence to the requirements of the building regulations seems to be an omission. I know that the drafters of the Bill are keeping a clear distinction between building control...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: The Minister of State might send that note in respect of upskilling to the clerk to the committee rather than to me directly in order that the entire committee can benefit from it. I have one additional point to make in respect of this matter. I have spoken to a number of medium-sized contractors in different parts of the country. One of the concerning things they told me was that they...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I would make the point on record that while section 39 talks about continuous professional development, it does not explicitly make reference to building regulations or building control. It is, therefore, still a very general provision.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Many things that were intended to be captured by the Building Control Act 1990 ultimately were not. I will press the amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Absolutely; I thank the Minister of State for that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 15: In page 18, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(f) adherence to the requirements of the Building Regulations;”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 16: In page 19, line 31, to delete “such members of its staff as it thinks fit to be” and substitute “independent”. Section 21 relates to the appointment of inspectors. I have a question which will determine whether I press the amendment, which is just to clarify two elements of section 21. I first want to clarify the function of the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is very welcome but I want to tease this out so I have an understanding of the section. For the benefit of the committee, the Minister of State might outline what the functions of these inspectors are.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: Let me make the point for the proposition that I am making and I will then withdraw the amendment, although I reserve the right to reintroduce it depending on what the Minister of State returns with on Report Stage. This again goes back to that point about the need for an independent process. I would find it completely unacceptable that staff members of the Construction Industry Federation...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: I will withdraw the amendment but I reserve the right to reintroduce.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Eoin Ó Broin: We do not know if contractors are compliant or not. I am not at all casting aspersions on any contractor but we simply do not know. The number of complaints and strike-offs on the registers of architects and chartered surveyors is tiny. In fact, when we did pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill in 2017 or 2018, the committee was surprised when we brought in representatives of the Royal...