Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We are resuming our pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft planning and development Bill 2022. We are joined by Mr. Robin Mandal and Ms Pauline Cadell, Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance; Mr. Brendan Heneghan, Terenure West Residents' Association; and Ms Pauline Foster, Recorders Residents' Association. I welcome them and thank them for giving their time to assist us in getting this legislation right.

I will read a quick note on privilege before we start. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, 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 for anything they say at the meeting. Both members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and 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 and it is imperative 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.

I will call Mr. Mandal, followed by Mr. Heneghan and Ms Foster. After their opening statements we will have seven-minute segments for members to ask questions and for the witnesses to answer. We will probably have time for a second round. This is the second last meeting dealing with pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill. We were of the view that we would bring in representatives of the residents' associations later in the process to give them time to absorb such a large and complex document. After our concluding meeting with the departmental officials on Thursday, the secretariat will be tasked with preparing a report. It will be a difficult report to put together given all the information and submissions we have received. We hope to have the report completed by the end of March to present to the Minister based on our observations of these sessions.

I invite Mr. Mandal to make his opening statement