Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Housing and Retrofitting: Discussion

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome members and viewers who may be watching these proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the fourth public session of the Joint Committee on Climate Action. I ask people to turn off their mobile phones or to put them on to flight mode as they interfere with the sound system. I extend a warm welcome on behalf of the committee to Mr. Michael Manley, assistant secretary, and Mr. Robert Deegan, principal officer, from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I also welcome Mr. Declan Daly, SuperHomes programme manager, and Mr. David Flannery, SuperHomes customer manager, from the Tipperary Energy Agency, TEA. From the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, I welcome Mr. Jim Gannon, chief executive officer and Ms Orla Coyle and from the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, Mr. Tom Parlon, director general, and Mr. James Benson, housing executive.

I advise the witnesses 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 ruling of the Chair 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 now invite Mr. Michael Manley to make his opening statement.

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