Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Patrick Davitt, chief executive officer, Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, IPAV; Ms Niamh Randall, head of policy and communications, Simon Communities of Ireland; Mr. Mike Allen, director of advocacy, Focus Ireland; and Mr. Bob Jordan, chief executive, Threshold. The format of the meeting will be a round table discussion on the environment and housing based on the pre-budget submissions received from the organisations present. The delegates will make their opening statements in the following order: Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, Simon Communities of Ireland, Focus Ireland and Threshold. A question and answer session will then ensue. Given the time constraints, I would like to give more time to the question and answer session than to the opening statements. If time allows, the delegates will have time to wrap up. I remind everyone in attendance, including those in the Visitors Gallery, that all mobile phones must be switched off as they create distortion in the broadcasting of proceedings.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an 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 that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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 an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask Mr. Davitt to commence his opening statement on the pre-budget submissions and other witnesses can follow in the sequence I have outlined.