Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will take pillar five and then pillar four. There will be natural crossover anyway.

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 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 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 statement has been submitted to the committee and will be published on the committee website after this meeting. We will take the statement from Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, as read. 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.