Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

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

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. David Smith and Ms Nina Murray from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; Mr. Paul Morrin and Ms Gillian Roche from the Central Statistics Office, CSO; and Mr. Stephen McDonagh and Mr. John McCarthy from the Department of Finance.

In case we get ourselves into trouble, I wish to draw 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 to 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. Morrin.