Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome members and guest to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and remind them to mute their microphones. We are here this morning to discuss water quality and infrastructure and the small town and villages growth programme. We are joined by Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant Secretary, Mr. David Flynn, principal adviser, and Ms Joanne Walshe, principal officer, water division, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Mr. Niall Gleeson, managing director; Ms Margaret Attridge, asset operations; Mr. Gerry O’Donoghue, asset management; and Ms Kate Gannon, connections and developer services, Irish Water; and Mr. John McLaughlin, chief executive of Donegal County Council and Mr. John Mulholland, chief executive of Laois County Council, who are representing the County and City Management Association, CCMA. The witnesses are welcome here this morning.

Opening statements from the Department and Irish Water have been circulated to members. We do not have an opening statement from the CCMA, however, it has said it will answer any questions submitted by members. I will first go to the Department for its opening statement, followed by Irish Water. Members will then be invited to ask their questions. I will apply a strict six-minute time slot to include questions and answers. I will cut the members off after six minutes; if they take five minutes to ask a question, they will only have one minute for the answer. I need to do that because other Oireachtas Members wish to join this meeting, and to leave time for questioning at the end, I will need to stick to six minutes per member.

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. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in the public meetings. They 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 following the meeting. I now invite Mr. Ó Coigligh to make his opening statement on behalf of the Department.