Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am a layperson. I have described this so many times to people in County Donegal. When I get on an aeroplane, I trust that the pilot can fly it and that the mechanics have it in good order. We put our trust in professionals. Right now, this is a huge dilemma. Nobody can professionally say the standard on which we base this scheme is fit for purpose and can be trusted. Ms Larkin will appreciate what a massive dilemma this is. Deputy McHugh outlined this too. We need the experts to arrive at a consensus. We had the engineers on the previous scheme, the so-called 90-10 scheme. Very quickly, within months, some engineers started to challenge that scheme and speak out. I thought that any day now, somebody from the National Standards Authority of Ireland or the panel of experts, because I am a layperson, would speak out to put them at ease and say, "Do not worry, your concerns will be addressed." It never happened. Nobody ever came forward to reassure those engineers, and the concerns grew and grew to the point that I do not know a single engineer implementing the previous scheme who believes IS 465 is fit for purpose.

What an absolute disaster. We have a multi-billion euro scheme based on a scientific premise that has no standing. I am appealing to the collective wisdom and ability of those who have the expertise to please arrive at a consensus in order that we can rebuild people's lives and not have the fear they are going to go down this road again. I only get this opportunity maybe once a year or once every six months.

We have to get this sorted. The experts have to reach a consensus and get this sorted out.