Ms Áine Myler:

I am happy to do that. We have also made a submission to the Courts Service on the arbitration process. We will be happy to share those submissions with the committee.

I agree with the Deputy on the idea that there are percentages placed against social and affordable housing. All housing should be affordable, other than for those who do not need it to be affordable. That should only be the 10% of people who can write a big cheque. Affordability is not just financial. The definition of affordability should be examined by the Land Development Agency, LDA, because it can develop a long-term vision.

On tender prices, it is very challenging at this time for procuring agencies to see the detail within tenders and the reason prices are shifting. The society, and other bodies, have come together with international agencies to develop international construction measurement standards, which the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, is looking at. It is hoped these will help procuring agencies to be able to compare and contrast with other jurisdictions each stage of construction costs in other areas and the reason cost is necessarily a factor in certain parts of a construction project here versus in other jurisdictions. I am aware that materials, labour and every other cost, as well as regulation, have driven up costs very significantly in the recent past.