Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Committee on Housing and Homelessness

Association of Irish Local Government

10:30 am

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before we commence and go through the formalities, the first item concerns mobile telephones, which must be put in flight mode or switched off completely because, apart from interfering with the meeting, they affect the broadcasts and recordings. I again ask those with mobile telephones to please turn them off. I draw the witnesses' attention 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 the evidence they are to give to this 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 qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and 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 statement the witnesses have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome the Association of Irish Local Government, represented today by Councillors John Crowe, Pat Daly, Padraig McNally, Michael Hourigan, Pat Fitzpatrick and Dermot Lacey. The witnesses are all very welcome. At the outset, I indicated their submission has been received and has been circulated among members. I propose the association makes an opening statement based on that submission, after which there will be questions from the members of the committee.

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