Dr. Donal McManus:

In terms of clarity on the issues that have to be addressed, we are new to this process and it is somewhat vague to us in the way it manifests itself but now that three errors have been identified, we must be clear on what issues specifically need to be addressed because they are currently quite vague and nebulous. Issues such as contract control, risk and finance were highlighted but more specificity is required in that regard in order for things to be addressed.

I do not know whether that is done through EUROSTAT and that is why we are unclear about the process, or through the CSO or whether the CSO is directed by EUROSTAT. That is an issue because unlike the United Kingdom, which had an inventory, a list of things to do and had to make simple changes, in Ireland we will have to drill down into an unknown number of issues.

All the housing bodies have standard reports. A number of issues in the report were red herrings, such as control being manifested through giving information on insurance premiums. That clouds the issue. The major element we would like to see is an inventory of the specific issues that need to be addressed. It is quite high level at the moment and we join Mr. Brian O'Gorman in challenging the idea of risk regarding almost a right to housing obligation on housing bodies. I have not seen that before. It is essential to have an inventory of the issues that need to be addressed because they are a bit vague at present in terms of the three areas.