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

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and those in the Visitors Gallery are requested to ensure their mobile telephones are turned off completely or switched to aeroplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device, for the duration of the meeting. It is not sufficient to place telephones on silent mode as they will still interfere with the broadcasting system.

No. 2 on the agenda is the right to housing in an international context. I welcome Ms Leilani Farha, UN special rapporteur on the right to housing, and Ms Julieta Perucca. I welcome Mr. David Joyce, Mr. Conor Casey and Ms Sinead Kerin from Mercy Law Resource Centre

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if 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 Ms Farha to make her opening statement.