Mr. Michael Lyons:

I do not think there is a single answer, unfortunately. Several possible solutions and parameters will be required to address this difficulty concerning the underwriting of insurance policies for professional indemnity. The Grenfell Tower fire in the UK triggered the awareness of the difficulty with external cladding on buildings. Insurance and mortgage providers in the UK then introduced an external wall system, EWS, scheme and an EWS1 form, whereby the issue of external cladding was separated and removed from the normal process. Chartered fire engineers now assess external cladding on buildings and subsequently fill out these EWS1 forms. That was the solution arrived at in the UK to deal with the particular aspect of the difficulties that arose from the Grenfell Tower fire. The EWS scheme was supported by the UK Government and a fee and cost was set in that regard.

There is probably not a major difficulty in Ireland in that area, because a review was done here following the Grenfell Tower fire by the then Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Fire officers reviewed all the tall buildings in Ireland and we do not appear to have the same difficulties with that type of construction as exist in the UK. We do have a problem, however, with the delivery of PI insurance policies. The solution will come from several different factors working together to assist with delivery in this area. Engineers Ireland wants to assist as much as possible in delivering such a solution.