Dr. Oliver Kinnane:

Having a central office in the Department of the Taoiseach or otherwise, somebody who is drawing the links between all the different factors and Departments, is a very good idea. I think it is necessary because if there are a great many fragmented organisations trying to implement this, it is going to lead to problems. It is a good idea. With more funding for research, we can inform process and strategy. With more post-occupancy evaluation, we will get data that tells us whether we are doing the right thing, or the wrong thing. That is how we should do it rather than rush to retrofit everything and not know whether it is the right solution or not.

To break somewhat from the party line, I think the best idea would be to give every householder in the country a €500 voucher to buy draught proofing or minor measures in the local hardware store and do a shallow retrofit on the majority of buildings in the first place.