Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is our third session to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the monuments and archaeological heritage Bill. Today we are joined from the Heritage Council by Ms Virginia Teehan, chief executive officer and Mr. Ian Doyle, head of conservation. From the Office of Public Works, OPW, we are joined by Ms Rosemary Collier, head of heritage services and capital works delivery, and Mr. Ken Moore, principal officer. Remotely we are joined on MS Teams by Mr. Brian Keaney, vice president of the Irish Planning Institute. They are very welcome here today and the committee thanks them for their assistance in helping us scrutinise this important legislation. Members have been circulated with the opening statements and a briefing. I will read a short note on privilege before we begin.

I 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 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. 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 invite our witnesses to make their opening statements. The order will be the Heritage Council, Ms Teehan, the OPW, Ms Collier and then the IPI, Mr. Keaney. I invite Ms Teehan to make her opening statement on behalf of the Heritage Council.