Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will discuss that in a second. I am not so sure that it was not possible to predict, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, what the outcome was going to be. That point must be made. I agree with my colleague in relation to faulty blockwork and concrete, etc. I cannot understand why lending agencies did not take account of the fact that there were certain professional guarantees attendant on the use of materials from architects, engineers, the construction industry, insurance companies and local authorities, etc., in relation to the application of rules. In the past, it was not possible to get a loan for any amount of money for a building on which shortcuts were made or improper materials were utilised. There was an engineer in our local authority who insisted on cube and various tests on materials as they appeared on-site. There were rapid responses in all cases. Without notice, inspections were carried out. There was always something. Why did lending institutions not insist on something like that to protect their own interests? After all, if lending institutions are lending to the market, it is essential that the market is careful in what it does and its inputs. Is that not the case?