John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The minutes of the joint committee meeting on 19 October 2022 were agreed in private session earlier today. The second item on the agenda is a discussion on the effect of the concrete block levy with representatives of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, SCSI, the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, and the Mica Action Group. I welcome from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, Mr. Kevin James, president, and Mr. Micheál Mahon, chartered quantity surveyor; from the CIF, Mr. Frank Kelly, president, and Mr. Tom Parlon, director general; and from the Mica Action Group, Ms Lisa Hone, chairperson. We will have a number of opening statements.

I remind members and witnesses of privilege. Those contributing from the Leinster House campus are covered by full parliamentary privilege and those contributing from outside of the campus may have limited privilege. 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, her or it identifiable.

I invite Ms Hone to make her opening statement.