Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | 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 just put phones on silent mode as this will maintain the level of interference with the broadcasting system.

On the agenda today is the role and remuneration of local authority members. I welcome to today's meeting the Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, and the officials from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

I draw the attention of the officials to the fact 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 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

It has been agreed by the committee that we will take the Minister of State's statement as read and we will go straight to questioning. The first member who indicated, Senator Boyhan, will be followed Deputy Cassells.