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

No. 6 on the agenda is funding and delivery of public housing under the Rebuilding Ireland action plan. In our second session, we will meet representatives of the local authorities. I welcome Ms Margaret Geraghty and Ms Mary Egan from Fingal County Council; Ms Breege Kilkenny and Mr. Joe Lane from Wicklow County Council; Mr. Joe MacGrath and Ms Sinéad Carr from Tipperary County Council; and Mr. Brendan Kenny of Dublin City Council.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they 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 on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I thank the local authority officials for their patience and forbearance as we are an hour late getting to them. I apologise for keeping them delayed. There may be votes called during this session but we will deal with that should it happen. We have a plan B in place. There is a bit of difficulty with PowerPoint so we will go straight to questions.