Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I want to respond because the Minister was asking about what I am proposing here with reference to the principle of the accessibility impact statement and the threshold for that. Obviously, with these amendments there is a threshold of linking that to the threshold for an environmental impact assessment. I would have no issue if the Minister was proposing a different threshold or set of criteria. I am not fixed on it having to be linked to that threshold, but it was important we have a threshold for the kicking in if the need for an accessibility impact statement. The Minister has engaged on Part M, but I am not clear if there is any intent to do anything. He has told us there is no formal decision to review, so we are clear on that, but we are not really clear on what the view is, whether it is a view that there is a need for a review or what is going to happen there.

Given the Minister in his remarks put quite a lot of emphasis initially on the building control legislation, we again do not have clarity on when there will be changes there or whether there will ever be. I am not clear from the discussion if the Minister is saying there are deficiencies in other legislation that need to be addressed or if he is saying this legislation is robust enough that we comply with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and that, beyond this legislation, there is nothing further that needs to be done. I feel strongly much more needs to be done but I am just not clear on what the Government view on this is.