DONEGAL TD Charles Ward called the Government’s move to publish the Defective Concrete Blocks Amendment Bill only eight hours before the Second Stage debate “deliberate and disgraceful”.
Deputy Ward said he and his team monitored through the night for publication and contacted Minister Mary Butler’s office at 9.30am this morning, before the Bill was finally released at 10am.
Even the Oireachtas Library and Research Service confirmed they could not analyse the Bill because it was published too late.
Deputy Ward said this was not an oversight.
“This Government did not want TDs reading this Bill,” he said.
“If we had time to read it, we would have time to expose just how weak it is.”
The Government’s explanation that drafting amendments took longer than expected was described by Ward as “completely unbelievable”.
He pointed out that the Minister announced this Bill six months ago.
“Families were given eight hours,” he said.
“That is not democracy.
“That is avoidance.
“That is evasion.
“And it is insulting to every person living in a crumbling home.”
The 100% Redress TD said the Government’s handling of this legislation has been ‘shambolic’ from the start.
The draft Bill was sent to the Housing Committee late on a Friday evening.
Members were given almost no notice for the meeting that followed on Monday.
TDs were forced to attend online and vote by email.
“This was not scrutiny,” Ward said.
“This was manipulation.
“It was designed to choke off debate and railroad the Bill through with as little challenge as possible.”
Drawing on his Dáil speech, Ward said: “You cannot fix a national disaster with rushed paperwork and last minute drops.
“You cannot ask people to raise children in houses where every gust of wind makes them wonder if the wall will come down.
“Families cannot rebuild their lives when the State keeps them in limbo.”
He added: “Applications are not progress.
“They are evidence of crisis.
“People do not apply for this scheme because it is working.
“They apply because their homes are unsafe and they are terrified.”
Ward said affected communities feel ignored and abandoned.
“They feel disrespected,” he said.
“I carry that anger into the chamber because it is my own reality too.
“Families deserve a safe home.
“They deserve truth.
“And they deserve justice.”
