Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Today we are reconvening the series of meetings we have been having on implementing Housing for All. We are joined by representatives from Longford County Council and Mayo County Council. They probably know already that we have met the four Dublin local authorities, some of the greater Dublin area councils and the city councils. From Longford County Council I welcome Mr. Paddy Mahon, chief executive, and Mr. John Brannigan, director of service for housing, planning, regeneration and capital projects. We are joined remotely from Mayo County Council by Mr. Kevin Kelly, chief executive, Mr. Tom Gilligan, director of services, and Mr. Simon Shevlin, head of housing. The members have been circulated with the opening statements and briefings in advance and I thank the witnesses for their submissions.

Before we commence, I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place in which the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. 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 in respect of anything they say at the meeting. Witnesses attending remotely are not afforded absolute privilege. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and it is my duty as Chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in regard to an identifiable person or entity, speakers 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.

Each committee member will have seven minutes to ask questions and receive answers. For the opening statements, we will hear first from Longford County Council and then Mayo County Council. I invite Mr. Mahon to make an opening statement on behalf of Longford County Council.