Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This will be a brief meeting that will run to 2.45 p.m. We meet following the referral to this committee by both Houses of the Oireachtas of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024. My understanding is that this is the fourth year the committee has considered this matter. I welcome the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his officials to the committee to brief us on these regulations.

Before we begin, I will read a note on privilege. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place in which the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. The witnesses attending in the committee room are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meeting. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and it is my duty, as Chair, to ensure the privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Members and witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person or entity outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to make his opening statement and briefly describe the purpose of these regulations.