Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to amend the Building Control Bill 2005 to allow for the setting up of an independent architects council following the recommendation of the Competition Authority that such a body is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16474/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I do not propose to amend the Building Control Bill 2005 to provide for the setting up of an independent Architects Council, as recently recommended by the Competition Authority.

The 2005 Bill assigns a limited role to the registration body the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). First, the basic registration eligibility criteria are specified in the Bill and will not be determined by the registration body. Second, key decisions on admission of individual applicants to the register of Architects will not be made by the registration body, but by an Admission Board or Technical Assessment Board.

There will also be the safeguard of the right of appeal against refusal of registration to an Appeals Board and, ultimately to the High Court. Finally, the Bill provides that a majority of the members of the various Boards will be laypersons (non-Architects) under the Chairmanship of a retired judge or a lawyer.

However, I will take into account proposals for other detailed amendments of the Bill recommended by the Competition Authority during the forthcoming Committee Stage.