Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Everybody is very welcome to this meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Today we hold the first meeting in a series of three meetings at which we will look at urban regeneration within our cities, towns and villages across the country. Today we will focus on the repair and lease scheme, compulsory purchase orders, dereliction and vacancy in general. Over the course of the three meetings we will look at a lot of other factors that have an influence and could assist us with bringing life, vibrancy and living back to many towns and villages. Dereliction and vacancy are often obvious to us because they are a tangible thing we can see as we walk through towns, but the underlying reasons for and the solutions to dereliction and vacancy may not be as obvious.

We have a number of witnesses attending who have a lot of experience, as we will have at our second and third meetings on this topic. They include practitioners, academics, architects and many others who have an interest, a lot of experience and competency in this area. Today we are joined from Dublin City Council by Mr. Richard Shakespeare, deputy chief executive at the planning and property development department, and Mr. Paul Clegg, executive manager of the planning and property development department. Mr. Dave Dinnigan is the acting assistant chief executive at the housing and community services department, and Mr. John O'Hara is city planner. From Waterford City & County Council we are joined by Mr. Ivan Grimes, director of services, and Mr. Paul Johnston, senior resident engineer. From the UCD school of architecture, planning and environmental policy we are joined by Ms Orla Murphy. I understand that Ms Murphy is also co-director of the UCD centre for Irish towns. From Anois we are joined by co-directors Dr. Frank O'Connor and Ms Jude Sherry. I thank you all for your attendance and the written submissions you sent in in advance.

I will read out a brief note on privilege. Members are reminded of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. Members attending remotely from within the Leinster House complex are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meeting. This means they will have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. 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 within the Leinster House complex. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy, and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that that privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction. Members and witnesses 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 that were submitted in advance of the meeting will be published on the committee website after this meeting. I also extend a welcome to anybody who may be watching the meeting on Oireachtas TV. I think there has been quite a level of interest in this series of meetings.

I invite Mr. Shakespeare, on behalf of Dublin City Council, to make his opening statement.