Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson for allowing me to contribute. I thank the Minister for his reply, his officials for all the work they have done on the Bill, and all the homeowners who have been in contact with me and my colleagues in counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Sligo and other counties.

Everyone who speaks here today speaks with the best interests of the homeowners. Perhaps some of us are more motivated to deliver a package for homeowners that will allow them to reclaim their lives and restore their homes. The Bill has been the subject of a lot of talk for a very long time. It is indisputable that this legislation will replace a scheme that fell far short of what homeowners wanted and deserved. This Bill will put in place a scheme that homeowners will be able to access promptly that will give them full redress and allow them to reclaim their lives and rebuild their homes.

I have a problem with this amendment in that it calls for a review within seven weeks of the passing of the Act. It would appear that some Members do not want to see this Bill ever being passed. Even if it were delayed, prevaricated and prevented from being passed promptly, we will do everything in our power to prevent this, because we want to deliver a redress scheme for homeowners and see the passing of this Bill before the end of this sitting. Fianna Fáil Senators and the Government parties will stay here until this Bill is passed because it is vitally important that a scheme is in place for homeowners and that they are not left with a substandard scheme.

If the Bill were to pass with the proposed seven-week timeline, it would immediately become dated. We all know that it is a dynamic economic environment. Europe is at war. Russia did not just attack Ukraine. It attacked western civilisation and that has a direct impact on construction costs. We discussed and debated this at length at the Oireachtas joint committee. We have had a number of hearing on this subject. We need to accept that today's priority has to be to use our time productively to deliver a scheme for people that will allow them to reclaim their lives and rebuild their homes.