This government is depriving the Oireachtas of any opportunity to scrutinise the laws it is ramming through. This is not just undemocratic, it results in flawed laws that come before the Courts, costing lots of taxpayers’ money, and come back to the Oireachtas again.
Quarries that made huge profits from selling defective concrete blocks will be let off the hook by the Government today. A law will be rammed through by Government party TDs transferring the remedial cost to taxpayers, without even considering amendments that will ensure those quarries that provided defective blocks are pursued.
The priorities are, firstly, that crumbling homes are fully remedied and, secondly, that taxpayers are not be left footing all the cost. This Government Bill does neither. It should ensure those who made defective concrete blocks for profit are legally pursued.
Today, I called on the government to review the funding for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) providers, which threaten small local childcare services throughout Ireland.