HomeBond decision not to appear before Oireachtas Committee disappointing and surprising - Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht

The Committee, which was considering the damage caused to houses by the use of pyrite in their construction, expected that HomeBond would have felt obliged to appear before the Committee, especially given its controversial decision not to cover the cost of damage caused by Pyrite. 

Following its meeting on 18th October, the Committee has written to HomeBond to express its disappointment at the decision and has urged the company to reconsider its determination not to attend an Oireachtas hearing.

Committee Chairman Ciarán Lynch, TD said: “The Committee is deeply disappointed and very surprised that HomeBond has declined the invitation to address the Committee on a very important issue.

HomeBond is a leading provider of structural defect cover for new homes in Ireland. Recently it opted out of legal responsibility to the purchasers of homes damaged by pyrite and said it would not be taking any further action. As part of its hearings into the cost of restoring the structural integrity of houses damaged by the use of pyrite in building materials, HomeBond was invited before the Committee to explain its decision. The Committee believes that HomeBond should at least be available to explain its decision to an Oireachtas committee when given the opportunity to do so.

We expect HomeBond to review its decision in this regard and to appear before the Committee to discuss the topic ‘Cost of Restoring the Structural Integrity of Houses Damaged by the Use of Pyrite in Building Materials’ as soon as possible. The Committee strongly urges HomeBond, in the public interest, to provide all relevant information to the owners of houses in which Pyrite has been used, whether or not these houses have yet exhibited damage resulting from the use of that Pyrite.  The Committee also strongly urges HomeBond to provide this information, where individual householders agree, to the Pyrite Panel established by Mr Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.”

The Committee has also requested the Pyrite Panel to –

• Maintain an ongoing involvement from Pyrite Action and other affected residents;
• Bring forward proposals for the repair of houses that already show damage and proposals for a code of practice to provide for an effective system of testing and pre-emptive repair for all other houses that include Pyrite in their building materials;
• Keep the Committee informed of developments on an ongoing basis and prior to issuing a report.

It has also asked the Irish Insurance Federation to provide details of any pyrite guidelines for insurers which it may have issued and to explain how it deals with houses that are unable to secure home insurance due to Pyrite in their foundations or structures.

The Committee has also written to Bord Gáis Éireann asking it to supply information on its policy in providing and maintaining gas piping in houses where Pyrite has been used and to provide details of any instance in which Bord Gáis Éireann has refused to reconnect the gas supply where underground gas piping has been damaged and where heave-inducing pyrite is present.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has been asked by the Committee to conduct a fire safety assessment of pyrite related safety issues as a matter of urgency.

The Committee has also requested the Irish Banking Federation to encourage all the relevant banks to co-operate with the Pyrite Panel established by Mr Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and furnish all relevant information, including the financial status of companies prior to liquidation/receivership in order to ascertain whether the decision to go into receivership was based on an attempt to avoid liability for pyrite damaged houses.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies:

Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
 
Senators:

Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Coghlan, Independent