Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

They have all had to become experts on concrete standards, etc., which they never in their lives would have dreamed they would have to because they have been thrown into this. I imagine the stress of living with watching your house crumble. I have listened clearly to what the witnesses said.

Ms Hone stated this was the second or third time she has been at an Oireachtas committee. I have no doubt she will be at future Oireachtas committees because this scheme will run on and on. I appreciate the contributions on the lived experience that I cannot know. I live in County Wicklow. I am very far away from this but to hear the witnesses' lived experience is of benefit. They may feel that in coming here, it is a case of returning again and again but it is helping to make a contribution.

On what Deputy McHugh said about non-attendance of agencies, Departments and engineers, etc., as a committee, we should send them the transcript of this meeting. We should also send them the video link and ask them to watch it before they appear at the committee again. I have taken note of some of the questions raised. Others have probably taken note and asked questions as well. It would be really helpful for us as a committee - I do not want to load the witnesses with extra work - to present us with the exact questions they want to be asked of those agencies when they come in. We can read through the opening statements and I can take a note of what they said but if the witnesses were to clearly state that they want this or that question asked of whoever it might be, on whatever the issue might be, that would be helpful when we have the meeting. As a committee, we agreed this morning to reschedule that meeting with those agencies. The committee will act as quickly as we possibly can. We have a huge workload at the moment but this issue is vitally important. We will reschedule that meeting.

I thank the witnesses for their time and for travelling here to be with us. What they have said will be heard by the relevant officials, as we will put the witnesses' questions to them.