Ms Caroline Spillane:

I will respond to the code of conduct issue and my colleague, Mr. Cormac Bradley, will respond with regard to the inspection piece. In respect of Engineers Ireland, the relevant title that comes into play is that of "chartered engineer". A chartered engineer is required by Engineers Ireland to adhere to a code of conduct. We have an ethics and disciplinary board to which any member of the public can make a complaint for free. We hold oral hearings in certain circumstances and a chartered engineer can be removed from the register. If they are removed from the register, they cannot practise and will not be able to undertake activities under the building control regulations as specified.

Codes of conduct operated by professional bodies are to ensure that the standards of the profession are upheld. There are civil remedies in parallel with which a code of conduct must operate. This is where a person brings an action against someone for failure to deliver on a contract. That is the remark I would make in respect of chartered engineers.