I recently received Government approval for the imposition of a levy on both the quarrying and insurance sectors, as recommended by the independent pyrite panel. Preparing the necessary primary legislation, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is now under way and a priority for the Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government in this regard in the coming weeks. It is my intention that the Bill will be published and enacted in the shortest possible timeframe.
I previously announced the appointment of Mr. John O’Connor, formerly chairman of An Bord Pleanála, as chairman of the Pyrite Resolution Board, the establishment of which was also a recommendation of the pyrite panel. I am also appointing to the board Paul Forde, joint managing director of DBFL Consulting Engineers; Sean Balfe, a structural engineer with the National Standards Authority of Ireland; and Caroline Gill, a former Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland and deputy Financial Services Ombudsman. I will also appoint a representative of the entity being established by the construction sector to undertake a remediation programme as the final member of the board. The board will thus have membership with the particular range of skills and experience necessary to oversee the successful operation of the remediation scheme and to ensure the public interest, and the interest of the affected homeowners, is well served. Given the focussed nature of its particular role, I do not propose to include a representative from the Pyrite Action Group on the board. I am, however, confident the board will have the requisite mix of skills and experience, including in regard to consumer protection, to ensure an efficient and effective remediation process is delivered to all affected home owners.
