Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage where we recommence our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the monuments and archaeological heritage Bill. We are joined from An Taisce by Mr. Gary Freemantle, interim chief executive officer Mr. Ian Lumley, head of advocacy, and Dr. Mark Clinton, monuments and antiquities. We are also joined from Archaeology Ireland by Dr. Sharon Greene, from the Local Authority Archaeologist’s Network by Dr. Ruth Johnson, network chairperson, and from Transport Infrastructure Ireland by Mr. Rónán Swan, head of archaeology and heritage. I thank them all for their attendance here today, for their submissions and opening statements in advance, and for assisting us in trying to craft this legislation so that it is fit for purpose.

On privilege, I must remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in the public meetings. For those attending the meetings remotely from within the Leinster House complex, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contribution to today's meeting. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. For witnesses attending remotely from outside the Leinster House complex, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, 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. Both members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I will ask our expert witnesses to make their opening statements and we will then move to a questions and answers session with members. To keep the meeting flowing we will keep those segments to seven minutes, which is seven minutes in total for the question and the answer. We have much expertise both online and in the room so if members wish to put a question directly to one of our witnesses, that would also be helpful. If any of the witnesses wish to contribute they may raise their hands to indicate that they wish to come in on an answer and I will try to accommodate that as best as possible.

I now turn to Mr. Freemantle, on behalf of An Taisce, to make his opening statement.