Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in thanking the Minister for bringing the Bill to the House. In his last summation the €2 billion in fuel supports that he mentioned shows where we are coming from in the past ten years. If the houses had been built and insulated properly it would not have been necessary to spend the €2 billion. The same issue arises in another area involving retrofitting facilities for the disabled in houses for people who need it where we are spending hundreds of millions of euros. If they had been built properly with a low level access shower and toilet downstairs we would not have to do that work.

I thank my colleagues who contributed to the debate which, at times, went beyond the remit of the Bill. I appreciate that the Minister took many positive comments on board. I wish him well with the Bill and any other Bills he may initiate.