Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here. I acknowledge, as I have done previously, the progress that has been made in the establishment of the Pyrite Remediation Board since I published my Bill two years ago. I believe there is still an issue regarding amending the Statute of Limitations. One of the recommendations in the report the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government commissioned was to amend the Statute of Limitations so that it would start from the day a householder received a confirmed test and reading that his or her home was affected by pyrite.

I have raised this with the Pyrite Remediation Board at meetings in the Custom House. While I commend what the board is doing, I believe this would add to the process and would certainly give more protection for those who have not yet sought to take a legal case, in many instances because they cannot afford it. For them the Statute of Limitations could run out and the purpose of the Bill is to amend the Statute of Limitations in this instance, so that the clock would start from the date of a confirmed pyrite test.

I hope the Minister will accept the Bill and allow it to pass Second Stage. I do not claim it is perfect, but allowing it to go to Committee Stage would assist in the process. Will the Minister be in a position to respond at the end of this debate?