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

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient to place phones in silent mode as they may maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 1 on our agenda is an update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. I welcome to the meeting the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and his officials.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the joint committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I thank the Department for inviting members of the committee to a briefing last week. Most members found it very useful. The ongoing communication between the Department and the committee is of great assistance in the context of these proceedings.

I call on the Minister to make his opening statement.