I also welcome the young people from the Finglas Youth Service in my constituency who are visiting tonight. It is wonderful to have them in and it is interesting because it makes me reflect on this. I have looked at it and I am concerned, as others have expressed, by its rushed nature and the fact that we have not been given the time to go through it in detail. It connects with young people coming in to understand and see our democracy and politics in action and the decisions made. Unfortunately, the measures brought forward in this Bill and the rushed nature of the amendments and what has been done are not the true actions of what a democracy should be. The Opposition should be given the time to go through and understand these measures and amendments. I know the Minister has a legal background. I do not think he would consider it fair to be thrown into a court and be expected to make decisions without all the evidence and advice to hand. In a way he is asking us to do the same - to make decisions on important, fundamental legislation without having all the information or advice, including the advice from the Attorney General, to hand. We should have it. If we are to take our jobs as legislators seriously then we have to raise these concerns and ask whether we are making decisions in full knowledge with all the information we should have. The reality is the Minister knows we are not and we would not be. On that basis, we cannot stand over supporting what the Minister is bringing forward on this Stage. As Deputy Charles Ward and all of us on this side of the House have raised, the issues affecting the people of Donegal, Mayo and other counties along the west coast that have been affected by defective concrete blocks, as well as the issues affecting those in our own constituencies who have been affected by the apartment dwelling issues and the serious issues we have raised in respect of fire safety and the potential risks to life that are ongoing because of defective building, are matters of life and death. These are matters that determine the ability of people to live in homes that are safe, secure and of a decent standard. There are serious concerns. The Minister has said his intention with this is to improve things. That is his intention and that of his officials and I take that at face value. However, we need to be able to see that in detail to be able to support it. We know there are major problems with building standards and the concern is how we are going to ensure that is not going to continue. In Ballymun, in my constituency, we have social housing that was built not 40 years ago, but in the time of the regeneration two decades ago, and yet there are major problems of dampness and mould and these need to be addressed. We need to be assured that we are avoiding this happening in the future and that the problems that exist are going to be rectified properly. On that basis, the Social Democrats will not be supporting the motion.

Sentiment score: 0.05