Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he proposes to publish legislation to govern the operation of property management firms of apartment complexes and other multi unit developments; and his views on whether existing legislation is inadequate to provide to apartment and home owners essential legislation to which they should be entitled. [22162/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to address the many urgent problems associated with the operation of management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/07]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to introduce much needed legislation to regulate estate management companies. [22297/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 191 and 198 together.

Property management companies are legal entities incorporated under company law and are subject to its provisions. In December last, the Law Reform Commission published a Consultation Paper on Multi-Unit Developments which drew attention to a broad range of issues arising in relation to the governance and operation of such developments, including problems arising from the manner in which company law currently applies to property management companies. The Paper makes it clear that action to address these problems will be required across several policy fields, including company law, consumer protection law and the development of regulatory structures.

In recognition of the cross-cutting nature of many of the issues identified by the Law Reform Commission in its Paper, a high-level interdepartmental committee has been established to assist in the development of a coherent and comprehensive response to the problems arising in this area. A key task of this committee will be to identify the legislative and administrative actions to be taken in response to definitive recommendations for legislative reforms which, following a lengthy consultation process, will be set out in the Law Reform Commission's forthcoming Report on Multi-Unit Developments and to determine a timescale for their implementation. I expect that this Report will be published later this year.