asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has received complaints regarding the practice adopted by a small number of builders requiring house purchasers to sign away their Common Law rights; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Purchasers' Rights.
83.
I am aware that the practice referred to—which I deplore—has been adopted by a small number of builders and I have recently been in touch with the Construction Industry Federation about it. They have informed me that when the two-year structural guarantee scheme operated by the Irish Housebuilders Association was introduced in 1969, the association's committee strongly advised member firms not to include such provisions in building contracts; and that the committee has now decided to circularise its member firms again in the matter and has unanimously resolved that a new rule will be introduced at the next annual general meeting of the association to prohibit the practice in future.
I will be keeping in touch with further developments in the matter.
Surely this is a completely inadequate action on the part of the Department? Is it not the duty of the Department to ensure that people who are buying their houses are not put in this position? The Parliamentary Secretary says he will get some voluntary body to tell its members they should not do so and so. What are his Department doing about it?
The Minister did meet the representatives and got an undertaking from them.