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

We are back in public session. At the request of the broadcasting and recording service, members, witnesses and visitors are requested to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off completely or placed in aeroplane, safe or flight mode for the duration of the meeting. It is not enough to put one's phone on silent mode because this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the review of the local property tax, LPT. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Councillors Ruairí McGinley and Paddy McCartan from Dublin City Council's finance strategic policy committee, SPC. Councillor Ciarán Cuffe, also of Dublin City Council, will be joining us shortly. I also welcome Ms Kathy Quinn. Finally, from PMCA Economic Consulting, I welcome Dr. Pat McCloughan.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of the witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they 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 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 nor 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.