Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The next item on the agenda is the committee's engagement with Tipperary County Council on Mr. Terence Coskeran's petition No. 00021/21, taking in charge. This petition is a request for Tipperary County Council to take in charge a residential development of five houses at Rocksprings, Kilross, County Tipperary, developed by Mr. Coskeran. Mr Coskeran appeared before the committee on 13 October 2022 to present his petition and I welcome him and Mrs. Margaret Coskeran to the Public Gallery and back to Leinster House.

Before we begin, I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with such a direction.

Before we hear from the witnesses, I propose we publish Tipperary County Council's opening statement on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed. I extend a warm welcome on behalf of the committee to Mr. Joe McGrath, chief executive, Mr. Eamon Lonergan, director of services, and Mr. Denis Holland, senior engineer at Tipperary County Council. I understand Mr. McGrath will make the opening statement on behalf of the council. I suggest he should make his statement for approximately ten minutes. We will then invite members to ask questions and make comments. I request each member to keep within ten minutes to allow members to make a second contribution.

I invite Mr. McGrath to make his opening statement.