Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Our meeting will focus on matters relating to the achievements of targets and value for money achieved in regard to housing supply and delivery. We will be dealing with the following: the Appropriation Accounts 2017; Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government; the 2017 financial statements of the Housing Agency; and chapter 10 of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2017 report, funding and oversight of approved housing bodies.

We are joined from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government by: Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General; Ms Mary Hurley, assistant secretary; Mr. David Walsh, assistant secretary; Ms Nina Murray, principal officer; Ms Marguerite Ryan, principal officer; Mr. Aidan O’Reilly, principal officer; Ms Theresa Donohue, assistant principal; and Mr. Maurice Coughlan, finance officer. We are joined from the Housing Agency by: Mr. John O'Connor, chief executive; Mr. David Silke, director of research; Ms Margaret Jordan, head of finance; and Mr. Pat Fitzpatrick, senior executive officer.

Please note that we have scheduled a second meeting on this topic for 22 November and we will deal with the housing assistance payment, HAP, housing supports and matters in regard to the approved housing bodies, as well as any other matters arising out of today’s meeting. Therefore, this is the first of two meetings.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off entirely or to aeroplane mode. Merely putting them on silent will still interfere with the recording system.

I wish to advise the witnesses 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to 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 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 provisions within Standing Order 186 that the committee shall also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies. While we expect witnesses to answer questions put by the committee clearly and with candour, witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol.

We will take the opening statement from the Comptroller and Auditor General.