Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services members and visitors in the Public Gallery are asked to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile telephones are turned off or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient to put telephones on silent mode as this will maintain the level of interference with the broadcasting system.

I welcome Mr. Paul Lemass, Mr. Rory O'Leary and Ms Stella McKervey from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Ms Scline Scott, Mr. Robert McLoughlin and Mr. Stephen McDonagh from the Department of Finance.

I will outline the position on privilege before we begin. 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 it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person 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 invite Mr. Lemass to make his opening statement.