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

At the request of broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the public Gallery are asked to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient to just put a phone on silent mode, as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 5 is the reclassification of approved housing bodies, AHBs. We will have two sessions. On behalf of the committee I welcome to our first session Mr. Brian O'Gorman, Mr. Kieron Brennan and Mr. John Hannigan from the Housing Alliance; and Mr. Donal McManus, Ms Karen Murphy and Mr. Gene Clayton from the Irish Council for Social Housing, ICSH.

Before we begin, I draw everyone's 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 their evidence of the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of that 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. 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 call Mr. O'Gorman to make his opening statement.