Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

During the construction process, the local authority had a role to play. What was the level of interaction between the Department and the local authority? Why were the defects not noticed until construction had been completed? It is reasonable to assume that most of the people who purchased units in Priory Hall obtained mortgages. One of the conditions with regard to drawing down a mortgage is that an engineer or some appropriately qualified individual must sign off in respect of the various phases of construction of the property to be purchased.

With so many people signing off, such as the local authority, the Department or the engineers employed by the lending banks, why were defects only noticed post-construction?