SEANAD:MICHAEL MULLINS (FG) said he looked forward to the Oireachtas having the power, following the passing of a referendum, to investigate the wrongdoing that had led to the evacuation of the Priory Hall apartment complex in north Dublin.

Mr Mullins said it should be no surprise that problems were emerging as a result of the madness and “cowboy activity” during the Celtic Tiger. “The dogs in the street knew that there was very poor construction of many homes and buildings. Light-touch regulation and lack of enforcement certainly was a major contributing factor.”

He looked forward to the Oireachtas being empowered to investigate the kind of activity that had come to light in Donaghmede.

Mark Daly (FF) said it would cost €200,000 to accommodate the evacuees until late next month. However, there were vacant fully-fitted apartments in the vicinity which were under the control of the National Asset Management Agency. Why weren’t these facilities being used as emergency accommodation?

Further cuts in the already creaking health service would bring about potentially life-threatening complications for many people needing medical treatment, John Crown (Ind) warned. He suggested the introduction of a variation of the hospital sweepstakes scheme which had been availed of in the past to fund hospital work.

He had in mind a national health service solidarity government- backed bond in which people could invest at a low interest rate for a fixed period. Revenue raised would be ring-fenced for the maintenance of the health services.