James Browne

No.

Sometimes I think the Deputy selectively listens to what I am saying. I will repeat what I said in my first answer. Video scripts related to various aspects of the campaign were flagged to my Department prior to finalising and uploading the video online for only the purposes of fact checking current policies and schemes, as would be reasonable. I said that in my opening answer. The Deputy chose no…

If we are talking about the record, I look forward to the Deputy correcting his outrageous allegation against me earlier in breach of the House rules.

No. The Deputy named me.

I welcome the opportunity to speak about water. Water is a precious resource. It is critical to our health, our environment and our economy. Access to safe and clean drinking water for everyone is a top priority for the Government. We know it is essential. The Government's water policies are centred on what is called the EU water framework directive. This directive requires all member states to p…

I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I am opposing the Bill because the Government's proposals far exceed what is being proposed by the Opposition. We have gone beyond what is in the Bill by bringing in the derelict property tax. The Deputy spent a long time criticising the existing regime, but the only solution he offered is to keep it in place and increase the administ…

I agree with Deputy Lawlor that these are a blight on our communities. There should be nowhere to hide for people who have properties they are letting go into dereliction. Not only that but there are areas, as the Deputy highlighted, where the law is overcomplicating the matter. Those areas need to be addressed one by one. It is unacceptable. It is antisocial behaviour. I am declaring a war on der…

And she resorts to the usual when I am making my comments, by trying to shout me down. We are well used to it. For those interested in trying to tackle the issues affecting our society, I have heard many good comments from across the floor. I will take them into account as I continue to develop policies. Taking on dereliction is a fundamental part of my role as I see it. That is why we are bringin…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government's vision for water services is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030 (February 2024), which sets out three main objectives; availability and reliability, safety and quality and sustainability, along with a series of related priorities for water servi…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 27th November, 2025. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the draft regulations and to set out the rationale and reasoning behind their development. The draft Planning and Development…

I thank Deputies for their support for both of the exemption regulations I have moved this evening. The first is an exemption to allow commercial properties to be converted for residential purposes and to allow that exemption to last for another three years. We will be looking to make that a permanent change because it is absolutely crucial that we revitalise our rural communities, and urban areas…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th December, 2025.

I move: That Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members, pursuant to Standing Orders 103(1)(a) and 222.

I move: That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee in relation to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to ma…

The purpose of this motion is to improve the building control regime that is in place to ensure the required standards for building regulations are met. These amendments will make certain that building regulations and building control regulations are further strengthened and clarified to the benefit of all stakeholders. In terms of the proposed regularisation process, the amendments provide for a …

I thank the Deputy. I will respond to amendment No. 1, which proposes to amend the Short Title of the Bill. This amendment would render the Short Title of the Bill incomplete and imply that the Bill relates to other concrete products, not just defective concrete blocks. As the Deputy is aware, the function of the Bill is to amend sections of the principal Act that provide financial assistance to h…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(3) The Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020 and Part 3 may be cited together as the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2025.”. Amendment No. 3 is a standard provision to allow for the collective citation of the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2025. It refers to Part 3, which is the Part being inserted into the Bill b…

The intention behind amendment No. 63 is to give flexibility to the Minister of the day, where new systems are being used, to be able to require additional information through regulations. I think that is reasonable to allow flexibility and not have to bring in amendments, as such. I am happy to accede to the Deputy's’ request that regulations will be brought before the committee for further scrut…

I will address amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, tabled by Deputies Ó Broin, Doherty, McGettigan, Conway-Walsh and Mac Lochlainn, and amendment No. 60, tabled by Deputy Ward. On amendment No. 5, as the Deputies are aware the defective concrete blocks grant scheme is a grant scheme of last resort to provide financial assistance to affected homeowners to remediate their homes and move on with thei…

I will address amendments Nos. 22 and 46, tabled by Deputy Charles Ward. Amendment No. 22 proposes that a designated local authority should allow 30 days for an applicant to reply to a request for further information from the designated local authority relating to an application for an increase in the remediation option grant. It then requires a designated local authority to issue a reminder after…

I have already explained this. Homeowners who completed remediation works prior to this date were provided for in the first set of scheme caps and rates. They were informed by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland 2023 cost report. The updated report was to look forward and not to bring in retrospective elements to that. The rates that applied applied to transitional applicants from the pr…

I seek clarity. Amendment No. 27 is not clear to me in what it proposes to amend. Section 8 of the Bill contains a new section 17A. This section 17A does not contain a subsection (4A). In the circumstances I cannot accept the amendment.

Amendment No. 33 proposes to remove the condition that a homeowner may only apply once for payment of an increased grant and this condition is contained in the Bill primarily in recognition of the fact that homes will be remediated under contracts covered by prices set within any 12-month period. It is also placed to reduce the administrative burden on designated local authorities in processing th…

I very much welcome this opportunity to come before the House to discuss the Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The development of this new housing plan was a commitment under the programme for Government. It reaffirms that housing is the number one priority for all arms of government, including local government, and expects that all people and organisations, wh…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2024 (Modification) Regulations 2025, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2025. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the draft regulations and set out the rationale and reasoning behind their development. First, I wish to take this opportunity to pro…