Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon. Attendees are very welcome to this meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Today we are going to continue our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the planning and development (amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021. We are joined remotely by the following witnesses: from the County and City Management Association, CCMA, Mr. Kevin Kelly of Mayo County Council, Ms Mary Henchy of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Mr. Michael Rainey of Carlow County Council and Ms Mary Conway of Dublin City Council; from the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, Mr. James Benson and Mr. Tom Parlon; from the Irish Planning Institute, IPI, Dr. Conor Norton; and from the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance Mr. Robin Mandal, Ms Marion Cashman, Mr. Ray Kenny and Mr. Sebastian Vencken.

Copies of the opening statements and briefing material have been circulated to members. I will first ask witnesses to make their opening statements. We would appreciate it if they would limit their statements to five minutes. Members will then be invited to address the witnesses. We will limit the slots for questions and answers to six minutes. If members to keep their questions to a reasonable level, we will get a second round and members will have another opportunity to ask questions then.

I will read the note on privilege. Members attending remotely from within the Leinster House complex are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore if statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House in order to participate in the public meetings. For witnesses attending remotely, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege. As such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a person who is physically present. 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.

The opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. I would also like to advise members and witnesses that we will not be commenting on particular planning applications that may be live at the moment or going through judicial processes. I now invite Mr. Kelly to make his opening statement on behalf of the CCMA.