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

We will consider the general scheme of the planning and development (No. 1) Bill 2014 with representatives from the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, the Housing Agency and the Irish Planning Institute. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the following to our meeting: Mr. Hubert Fitzpatrick, director of the CIF and a member of the Irish Home Builders' Association, IBHA; Mr. Stephen McCarthy, chairman of the IHBA; Mr. Hugh O'Neill, vice chairman of the IHBA; and Mr. Brian McKeon, a past chairman of the IBHA, who are attending on behalf of the CIF.

I also welcome Mr. Brendan Allen, vice president, Ms Deirdre Fallon, honorary secretary and Mr. John Spain, who is a member of the institute's council and a past president, who are attending on behalf of the Planning Institute. I welcome Mr. Conor Skehan, chairperson, Mr. John O'Connor, chief executive and Mr. David Silke, director of services, who are attending on behalf of the Housing Agency. I also welcome Mr. Tom Parlon, a former Minister. I thank all of the witnesses for their attendance here this afternoon. I propose that we hear the witnesses in the order that I introduced them.
I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact 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 the committee. However, 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 a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements and any other documents they have submitted to the committee may be published on the committee's website once this meeting has concluded.
Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
Before I call the witnesses I wish to make some comments. As everyone will be aware, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, has asked the committee to scrutinise the heads of the general scheme of the planning and development (No. 1) Bill 2014 and to report to him prior to the Bill being published. We have met officials from the Department to consider the issue and we will have one further meeting with witnesses this day next week to discuss the issue further. We have invited a number of organisations to address us at these meetings. We have also received a number of written submissions from a number of organisations and individuals on the issues.
I call the Construction Industry Federation to deliver its opening statement.