Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Today, we are meeting a number of approved housing bodies, AHBs, to continue our meetings on implementing Housing for All. We are joined today, from Circle Voluntary Housing Association, by Mr. John Hannigan, Mr. Colin Creedon and Mr. Russell Grainge; from Clúid Housing, by Mr. Brian O’Gorman and Ms Fiona Cormican; from Respond by Mr. Declan Dunne and Ms Niamh Randall; and from Tuath Housing by Mr. Sean O’Connor, Ms Orla Cleary and Mr. Martin Loughran. I welcome all of the witnesses to our committee today. I thank them for their attendance and the submission of their opening statements and supporting documentation in advance. Those statements and briefings have been circulated to members. As a committee we have carried out a series of meetings with a number of local authorities from across the greater Dublin area, the four Dublin county councils, the four cities and early next year we also will meet one or two of the more rural local authorities to continue looking at historical delivery and proposed delivery over the course of Housing for All and up to 2026. Before we go to opening statements and members' questions, I will read the note on privilege.

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 public meetings. Those witnesses attending in the committee room are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meeting. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. Both members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The order I will take the opening statements in is as follows: Circle Voluntary Housing Association, Clúid Housing, Respond and Túath Housing. I call Mr. Hannigan to make the opening statement on behalf of Circle Voluntary Housing Association.