Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Home Builders Association, ESB Networks and Uisce Éireann. The committee wishes to discuss the relationship between the provision of utilities and development. We are doing a lot of work around land activation measures and, obviously, we want to see more housing being built, so I thank the witnesses for being here today to discuss any issues that might arise on those matters.

From the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, we are joined by Mr. Hubert Fitzpatrick, director general designate; and Mr. Conor O'Connell, director of housing and planning services at the CIF and also director of the Irish Home Builders Association, IHBA, who was here with us recently on the land value sharing Bill. From the IHBA we are joined by Mr. Michael Kelleher, chairman. From ESB Networks we are joined by Mr. Nicholas Tarrant, managing director; and Mr. Alan Rossiter, manager, customer and projects delivery south. From Uisce Éireann we are joined by Mr. Niall Gleeson, chief executive officer; Ms Yvonne Harris, housing programme director; and Ms Maria O'Dwyer, head of asset management. You are all very welcome.

I will read a short note on privilege. 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. We do not have any witnesses attending remotely. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy. It is my duty as Chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of 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 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 invite the representatives of the CIF, ESB Networks and Uisce Éireann to make their opening statements, in that order. The format is that members will have eight-minute slots to ask questions and to get the answers back within those eight minutes. I call Mr. Fitzpatrick on behalf of the CIF.