Experience here has shown time and again that ethics and building are not always natural bedfellows, so a public event this evening at DIT may throw more light on the subject. As part of President Michael D Higgins’s commitment to conduct a national discussion on ethics and society, a public debate will be held that focuses on the built environment.

It's the first in a series of four debates and the panel of speakers tonight will include Hubert Fitzpatrick of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF); Padraic Kenna, an academic and lecturer in law at NUI Galway; Brian O'Driscoll, director of regulation at the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); and Frank McDonald, Irish Times environment editor.

Chaired by journalist Karen Coleman, the debate takes place in the Gleeson Theatre, DIT, Kevin Street, Dublin 8.

Members of the public are invited to attend. The registration desk will open at 6pm and the debate begins at 6.30pm. The series continues over the coming weeks on the following themes: ethics, journalism and the internet (Thursday April 24th); ethics and financial services (Thursday, May 15th); and ethics and food quality and safety (Thursday, May 22nd).