Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this issue. I agree with him that it is a serious matter for the householders involved. Notwithstanding the fact that the State is not liable for these issues, I decided to establish an independent panel to examine them because I felt we were obliged to see what we could do to help people. I asked the panel to complete its work as quickly as possible. All Oireachtas Members from the constituencies that are most affected by this problem, including Dublin North, Meath East, Meath West, Louth, Kildare North and Laois-Offaly, have been invited to attend a meeting next Tuesday at which the chairman of the panel and his colleagues on the panel will ask for views and discuss ideas on the basis of the experience they have built up with the industry and with householders. This is the final step in the process before the panel produces its report. While the panel has some continuing work to do, I expect the completion and publication of the report to take place in a matter of weeks. Perhaps the Senator will have an opportunity to debate this issue further arising from that.

I will speak briefly about the overall question of building control policy. Even before the issues relating to Priory Hall and other developments arose, I was concerned about the failure to provide for proper building control within the framework of enforcement regulations that have been drawn up. I intend to make changes to the technical guidance document of the building regulations, in relation to certification. They will be sent out for public consultation in the near future. I hope they will be seen as a robust response to the difficulties that householders have had with pyrite and as a result of lax standards. I attach a very high priority to consumer protection in the area of quality construction of new dwellings. I look forward to receiving the panel's comments on the importance of dealing with this important matter. Through no fault of their own, householders have gone through a very difficult time. I hope that with the help of the panel, we can come up with proposals and recommendations that will assist them as quickly as possible.