Fianna Fáil are criticising the Government for what they describe as the hasty introduction of new building regulations.

The new rules - which will see an increased level of accountability placed on professionals signing off on new buildings - come into effect today.

The Department of the Environment say the new rules will prevent any future reoccurrence of badly constructed dwellings.

Fianna Fail's Barry Cowen says the legislation is posing problems for self-builds: