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

We will now consider the topic of the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 and its successor within the context of the committee's current project on what it takes to sustain a viable rural community. Our first witness is Dr. Brian Hughes. Later in the meeting we will consider the same topic with representatives of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

I wish to note that we also invited Professor Des McCafferty, head of the department of geography in Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, and Mr. John Moran, former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, to address this meeting on this topic, but unfortunately they were unavailable to attend.

I welcome Dr. Brian Hughes, who is an urban economics and demographic consultant, and engages in research into urban economics, demography and growth centre agglomeration. He has lectured extensively, including in University College Dublin and is a member of the Government's CSO expert group on national and regional population migration and labour force projections. I thank him for his attendance today.

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. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statement and any other documents you have submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after this meeting. Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Dr. Hughes to address the meeting.