Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

From Cavan Belturbet municipal district and Cavan County Council I welcome Councillors John Paul Feeley, Peter McVitty and Eugene Greenan, Mr. Eoin Doyle, director of corporate services, Mr. Paddy Connaughton, assistant director of environmental and planning services, Mr. Brendan Jennings, senior engineer, and Ms Marice Galligan, senior executive planner. From Galway County Council and the municipal district of Connemara I welcome Councillor Noel Thomas, Cathaoirleach of the municipal district of Connemara, Councillors Thomas Welby, Eileen Mannion and Tom Healy, Mr. Kevin Kelly, chief executive, and Mr. Liam Gavin, director of roads, transportation, marine and general services.

From Meath County Council and Kells municipal district council I welcome the vice chairman, Councillor Eugene Cassidy, and Councillors Michael Gallagher, Johnny Guirke, David Gilroy, Seán Drew and Bryan Reilly. Ba mhaith fáilte a chur roimh gach duine atá tagtha anseo inniu. I ask witnesses to repeat their names before they speak because they will be swapping seats during the presentation. A request was made of west Cork municipal district council to attend today but unfortunately representatives were unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

I wish to 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. I also wish to advise witnesses that opening statements and any other documents they have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

By way of introduction, the sustainability of rural communities is a major issue for the committee. The development of this committee and the Department was a response by elected representatives to issues raised prior to the general election. We need to have a sustainable rural society where people can live, have leisure time and educate themselves without feeling the need to leave the areas. We need to build the areas and make them stronger. To do this we need infrastructure. We also need services such as Garda stations, schools and post offices and water and sewage services. I hope we have a good discussion and that all of the key issues are brought before us. I call the representatives of Belturbet municipal district council to make their statement and we will proceed to the other councils.