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 phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device used. It is not sufficient to leave them in silent mode because it will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting and recording systems.

The first item on the agenda is consideration of the reports published by the Homelessness Inter-Agency Group and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in June this year and the categorisation of emergency accommodation in monthly homeless reports.

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 joint 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 welcome our guests and I call on Ms Eileen Gleeson to make her opening statement.