Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Táimíd ar ais. We are here to discuss the topic of meeting the current housing demand with representatives from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Irish Council for Social Housing, Limerick City Council, the Peter McVerry Trust and Roscommon County Council.
I advise members that in order to complete the business in a timely and efficient manner questions should be brief. Blocks of ten minutes each have been allowed for questions and replies to those questions. Whoever is in possession in the tenth minute will asked to conclude. Any extra information may be forwarded in writing to the member. Those members not given ten minute slots will be allowed five minutes each.
I welcome Ms Kathleen Holohan, county manager and Mr. Tom McHugh, director of housing and community, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; Mr. Donal McManus, executive director and Ms Kathleen McKillion, head of development, Irish Council for Social Housing; Ms Kathleen Leddin, mayor of Limerick and Ms Caroline Curley, director of services, Mr. Brian Geaney, senior executive officer, home and social development, on behalf of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council; Mr. Pat Doyle, chief executive officer, Mr. Francis Doherty, communications and advocacy manager, Mr. Brian Friel, head of services, the Peter McVerry Trust; Mr. Martin Connaughton, mayor of Roscommon County Council and Mr. Tommy Ryan, assistant county manager of Roscommon County Council. I also welcome Ms Christina Fannin and Ms Catherine Finlay on behalf of Roscommon County Council. I propose taking opening statements in the order I have called witnesses, which is in alphabetical order.
I advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
The opening statements and any other documents submitted to the committee may be published on the committee's website at the conclusion of the meeting.
The issue of housing is of particular interest to the members of the committee. There have been fluctuations in the housing market for many years and the demand for housing seems to be growing again, in particular, in the Dublin region. We need to develop a housing policy which while meeting a demand in a sustainable manner also reflects the issues. We wish to avoid at all costs the creation of another property bubble.
This is the second of a number of meetings of the committee with various stakeholders on this important topic. We have invited various voluntary housing organisations and local authorities to engage with us on the topic. We intend to invite representatives from both the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and officials from the Department of Social Protection to assist us with our deliberations.
We hope to explore the relevant issues in order to have a comprehensive exchange of views with all the stakeholders in order to compile and publish a report. This committee is an adjunct of the Oireachtas and is not an extension of the Government. It is a cross-party committee comprised of Members of the Dáil and Seanad. In line with previous reports we hope to achieve a fairly good, sound, solid report based on the exchanges with all the witnesses.
I will invite the delegation from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to make its opening statement.