Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have received apologies from Senator Warfield and Deputy Mythen. This meeting has been convened with representatives of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, ITIC, Airbnb, Expedia Group and Threshold, the national housing charity, to discuss the general scheme of the registration of short-term tourist letting Bill 2022. This is the committee's second public engagement in respect of the general scheme.

On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome all our witnesses to committee room 1. From ITIC, I welcome Mr. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, CEO, Ms Máire Ní Mhurchú, chair of the Irish Self Catering Federation, ISCF, and an ITIC member, and Mr. James Flynn and Ms Noelle Carey, members of Irish Self Catering Federation, who will be joining the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams. From Airbnb, I welcome Mr. Derek Nolan, head of public policy in Ireland, and Ms Amanda Cupples, general manager for northern Europe. From Expedia Group-Vrbo, I welcome Ms Solveig Mayer, director of government and corporate affairs for western and northern Europe. From Threshold, I welcome Mr. Zak Murtagh, legal officer, and Mr. Gareth Redmond, policy and research officer.

The format of the meeting is as follows. I will invite witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which will be limited to five minutes. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish opening statements on its web page.

Before I invite the witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations relating to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding reference that may be made to any person in evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precinct is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses who give evidence from locations outside the parliamentary precinct are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts. They may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Witnesses are asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings should be given. They should respect decisions given by the Chair and observe the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as dragging a person's good name into disrepute.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment, criticise or make charges against any person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings.

I propose that we start with the joint opening statement from Mr. O'Mara Walsh and Ms Ní Mhurchú.