Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator together with Senators Craughwell and Boyhan for tabling this amendment. I also thank the sector for its engagement on this important legislation to put the regulation of the providers of building works and building control on a statutory footing, which is what we need. I do not envisage this will be an extra layer of regulation and I will explain why.

I will not be accepting these amendments. They seek, as the Senator said, to provide an exemption from registration for anyone who provides mechanical building services. They also seek to require a report to be prepared on how mechanical building services can be exempted from the Act. The building regulations apply to the installation of building services. Therefore, they will be subject to the Act. That is important. As opposed to creating another of regulation, as the Senator rightly said, it will take those who are operating in the grey economy and those who are not properly qualified out of contracts that are provided and it will let people know who the qualified contractors are.

Having listened to those in the sector, I advise the Senator the Bill specifically exempts those who provide electrical works performed by a registered electrical contractor and gas works performed by a registered gas installer. For the work that has already been undertaken, it will specifically exempt those. As I said, they are already registered with the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland, RECI, or the Register of Gas Installers of Ireland, RGII, and nothing will change in that space for that specific work they are doing. It will not require another registration if they are only doing those elements of work, but where they are carrying out other building works, they must fall under this new regime. I think it will be advantageous for them. I thank the Senator and the sector for their engagement on that. This legislation will not provide another layer of regulation for contractors. If anything, it will provide real security for the many thousands of really good contractors and tilt the balance in their favour when they are operating in the field against other contractors who may be operating in the grey economy.