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

We are in public session At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that mobile phones are turned off or switched to flight mode for the duration of the meeting. The first item on the agenda is consideration of Revised Estimates for public services 2019 for Vote 16, the Valuation Office, and Vote 23, the Property Registration Authority; and consideration of further Revised Estimates for public services 2019, Vote 34, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. On 20 February 2019, the Dáil ordered that the above-named Revised Estimates be referred to this committee for consideration.

I welcome the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Ministers of State, Deputies English and Phelan, and their Department officials. As we agreed in private session, we will begin with Vote 34 and then move to Vote 16 and Vote 23. For Vote 34, I will call out the programme and invite questions under that programme. Members will be called in the order in which they indicate.

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 invite the Minister to make his opening statement.