Taking Homebond to court 'won't deliver quick enough'

The head of the panel that looked at the problem of pyrite in homes around the country has said there is not scope for the Government to take 'Homebond' to court.

The structural defect insurer is now refusing to engage with claims in relation to pyrite, claiming a legal opinion that it does not have to compensate homeowners.

The Chairman of the Oireachtas Environment Committee Ciaran Lynch has said he believes the issue should be thrashed out in a court challenge.

However, Brendan Tuohy has told the committee that won't deliver quickly enough the need to fix people's houses.

He said Homebond needs to be encouraged back into the process.

Mr Tuohy said: "One of the problems maybe as a society that we have is we run first for the courts. I would much rather see them getting in and doing what they are capable of doing.

"They were doing it up until last year and what we are saying to them is we think they should reconsider the letter of last year and they should consider re-engaging.

"If we want things to happen quickly, our view is that is the way. I would much prefer to see action quickly and to see it happen now and see the houses repaired."