Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin opposes this section on behalf of the homeowners who have asked us to block this section. It is for the simple reason that the section signs away people's rights to take legal action. As we have constantly tried to explain to the Minister of State, where there is a shortfall we feel that homeowners should have the right to at least recover that shortfall in any legal action rather than the Minister take the full reward back for the Government. We do not think that is fair. We think it is fair that where there is a shortfall, which we know will happen, that has been acknowledged, that the homeowners have a legal right to at least make up that difference. It is purely an issue of fairness. I remind the Minister of State that this is the last opportunity to make any meaningful amendments to the Bill to improve it. He will be aware that there is a whole host of legal actions either planned or under way. People need to know that they will not have to face this shortfall and not have the right to recover some of this money back legally. It is really important that the Minister of State addresses this. There are people watching in on this debate today who are facing a shortfall. They know that this is not 100% redress. They have spoken to the builders and they know that there is a gap there. I have given the example time and again. Why deny them the right to at least make up that shortfall? Surely there is that amount of fairness in the Minister of State to address this issue in a positive way.