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

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members, witnesses and visitors in the Public Gallery are asked 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 their device.

It is not sufficient to put phones on silent mode as this will maintain that level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 6 is resumed pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019. I welcome Ms Maria Graham, Mr. Frank Gallagher and Ms Mary Jones from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. I also welcome Mr. John Coleman and Mr. Phelim O'Neill from the Land Development Agency, LDA. I thank them for coming in.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this 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 nor 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 call Ms Graham to make her opening statement.