Ms Oonagh Buckley:

Obviously, in the sense that we have to cover all bases in a decision and give reasoned opinions and decisions, if we cannot source expertise then that could cause a delay. In my short time working for the board, I have not experienced that. It is an issue so we have to have flexibility in the system where we can go outside the board and recruit that expertise to encompass conflicts and to deal with the fact it may not be worth the board's time to devote a post to the 94 valid fire safety appeals which we got over five years for example.

It may not be worth the board's time to have in-house expertise to deal with fire safety matters.