Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for both presentations. They were thought-provoking. I wonder, with regard to the innovation, should we be leaving it to the industry to innovate or should we have a State agency that is looking at best practice across the globe, in terms of trying to reach a firm decision on the direction we take? We have to take into account what Mr. Fitzpatrick said. There is a deficit here with regard to infrastructure in comparison to other countries. There is also a deficit, to some extent, in the knowledge and evolution of where we are going. Should we, at a State level, be providing more research, ideas and potential solutions that ultimately become the guidelines, the building regulations and the planning regulations, rather than putting the onus on the industry? It goes back to what, I think, Mr. Stapleton said. If the client is looking for it, we will deliver it. Rather than forcing it as a requirement of the construction sector, should the State be taking a greater role on that? I would appreciate a response to that.