This is a Second Stage debate on the general issue of gas safety. That is why I, like others, are raising issues that are related to but outside the scope of this Bill, although I will come to the specifics of the Bill as well. I have been raising issues of gas safety over multiple Dáil terms. It does not appear that the issues have been addressed. We have had complaints sent into multiple agencies. We have had protected disclosures about issues relating to gas safety and enforcement. We seem to have a serious problem. For example, when it comes to Gas Networks Ireland, it has been brought to my attention that there is an issue with gas meters being installed under stairways and inside front door areas that are designated escape routes, a practice that is not compliant with safety regulations. There is also a failure to address clear safety issues during meter installations. With regard to Bord Gáis, I have received complaints that the servicing of gas boilers is an issue and some should not have been commissioned in the first place due to safety defects. Other significant safety concerns are overlooked during routine servicing. In respect of the RGII, there have been allegations that large numbers of hazard certificates have been sent but they are not being acted on. With regard to the SEAI, homes have been surveyed and heating systems upgraded that are allegedly not fit for purpose. Documented safety issues during upgrade works are also being ignored by installers. I have a list of examples of common safety defects that I will go through. The first example is one over which I remember getting ejected from this Chamber because I refused to sit down when I raised it. I remember holding up a piece of pipe in the Chamber. The defect is gas pipes not being sleeved when entering homes. Back in the day, I mentioned there was a risk to tens of thousands of households throughout the country from gas pipes that were not installed to the original IS 813:2002 Irish quality standard. They were, therefore, liable to corrosion. There is a risk that the eventual corrosion of the pipes will lead to gas leaks and, in some cases, a risk of potentially fatal explosions. This issue was never fully addressed like it should have been. I wish to go through a few other issues that have been mentioned including: no earth bonding; exposed gas pipes on external walls without protection; gas pipes routed through apartment stairways between floors; gas pipes in voids with no external ventilation; gas pipes in lift shafts alongside electrical controls with mechanical joints and no fire stopping between floors; gas meters being used to support two-inch gun barrel pipework; no gas shut-off valves where gas pipes enter apartments; gas pipes buried in sand and cement without proper shielding, as I have mentioned; insufficient gas pressure to safely operate boilers, cookers and fires; poor-quality soldering on fittings; lack of required ventilation for gas cookers and fires; boiler flue terminals located too close to air vents; and cold water supply for heating systems connected directly to the mains. Whistleblowers have contacted me to say that they have substantial evidence to support all the issues that I have outlined and they have made submissions in this regard. I would love to see whether this is going to be investigated properly. In respect of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 and how it brings previously unlicensed rural LPG networks into a formal safety regime, it is welcome. It will hopefully address the immediate risk of gas leaks and non-compliance with safety standards. In the context of what I just mentioned previously, it all depends on the actual enforcement rather than just having the regulations. The CRU, in theory, can issue safety improvement notices immediately, reducing or removing the previous 21-day waiting period. On paper, this will make enforcement more implementable and effective. When it comes to costings, I note that the CRU introduced a simplified class 2 licence with a lower one-off application fee of €200 for smaller networks. However, there is still the risk that there will be increased costs for small businesses in that the requirements, such as preparing safety cases and annual levies, could place a disproportionate financial burden on the smaller LPG operators. Of course, the Bill does nothing to address the high energy prices and the price gouging of energy companies on hard-pressed residents. That is a separate issue but I wish to put that on the record. I also point out that whatever about the gas safety requirements, we are not doing enough in terms of the overall energy supply to progress renewables as fast as we should.

Sentiment score: 0.13

He should keep going, he is doing well. He is on a roll.

Sentiment score: 0.14