Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I join him in extending sympathy to all those bereaved in this regard. I acknowledge that the Minister of State has responded to this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. It is stated in the reply that the Government takes seriously its responsibilities in this regard. The response I have received, however, is entirely unsatisfactory. If the Government took its responsibilities seriously we would have legislation on this matter on the Statute Book. I do not accept we need to wait for the review of Part J of the building regulations. There is no reason this matter cannot be dealt with in isolation. I do not accept the reasons for the delay. Legislation on this matter has been enacted in the US, Northern Ireland and Britain and there is no reason it could not be enacted in this country.

Will the Minister of State convey that message to the Minister, Deputy Gormley and ask him to ensure whoever in his Department is responsible for this matter gets working on it? This reply is live horse and get grass. It is a bureaucratic response which I do not accept and with which I am very unhappy.