Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We now resume our discussion of the funding and delivery of public housing under Rebuilding Ireland. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Brendan McGrath and Mr. Dermot Mahon from Galway City Council; Mr. Conn Murray and Ms Aoife Duke from Limerick City and County Council; Mr. Joe McGuinness and Mr. Paddy Donnelly from Louth County Council and Ms Moira Murrell and Mr. Martin O'Donoghue from Kerry County Council. I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that 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 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.

Due to the tight schedule, the committee has decided to take the witnesses' opening statements as read. If they are agreeable, we will go straight into questions rather than reading out the statements.