Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this session is to engage with the chairperson designate of the Housing Agency, Mr. Michael Carey, and to discuss his strategic priorities for the role and his views on the challenges currently facing the Housing Agency. The committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairperson designate in public session to hear his views. We trust that this serves to provide greater transparency to the process of appointments to State boards and bodies. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Carey.

Before we begin, I 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.

If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an 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 invite Mr. Carey to make his opening statement.