Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have just explained to the Senator the legal complications I face. The Senator may be an expert on law but I have to deal with the Attorney General and the legal resources in my Department to advise me. I gave her the background in terms of the difficulties that arose. I do not want the unfortunate home owner to be put into a protracted legal issue again. We cannot say how much it will cost when we are not sure about the numbers. When we see the level of applications, we will be in a position to know the extent of the cost. Some houses will be more affected than others. Senator O'Brien mentioned estates that do not want anybody to know they have a pyritic problem but, nevertheless, they have to be resolved in some way. If someone is living in an estate of, say, 50 houses and six or seven of them have a pyritic problem, we would want to ensure the entire estate is clean of a pyritic problem to help marketability, insurance cover and all the issues with which we are very familiar. The pyrite resolution board will deal with those issues as best it can.

Seventy-four estates have been identified as being in serious difficulty. Regarding HomeBond, levies and all those issues, HomeBond is a private company and the reality is that the State cannot confiscate the money from it, but I assure the Senator that I will do everything I possibly can, morally, legally and otherwise, through measures we will be taking in future for the construction industry, to ensure there will be an opportunity for me to get HomeBond, Premier Insurance and others that have not co-operated on this occasion to the table in a more concerted way. Equally, a contribution through the court process that will present itself arising from decisions of the Supreme Court may give me an opportunity to get some money back from the quarrying and the construction sectors.

I am conscious that we should not be doing this as taxpayers but I explained the background and the legal difficulties, and I have to come to the House for the purpose of having this scheme established. I would not be here otherwise.

I thank the Senators for their contributions to the debate on the Bill. It is urgent legislation because it has dragged on for about a year longer than I would have wished, but I appreciate the indulgence of the House in coming forward with its support. We will examine the amendments Members brought forward, and I will table some amendments also on Committee Stage.