Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There are two meetings today. We will split the session into 90 minutes each. We are meeting today to discuss the defective block scheme regulations and a review of IS 465. In the first session, we are joined from the expert group by Mr. Paul Forde, chair, Mr. Martin Lynch, general manager of the Pyrite Resolution Board; from Engineers Ireland, we are joined by Mr. Damien Owens, director general, and Mr. Keelan Keogh, policy officer; from the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland, we are joined by Ms Shirley Coulter, chief executive officer, and Mr. Kevin Brady, chartered quantity surveyor; from the Mica Action Group Donegal, we are joined by Ms Lisa Hone. We are also joined, remotely, by Dr. Martina Cleary of the Clare Pyrite Action Group and Ms Martina Hegarty of the North Mayo Pyrite Group. They are very welcome.

The opening statements have been circulated. This is a 90-minute session. There are six opening statements, so if everybody could keep their opening statements as brief as possible, it will leave time for questions from members. The order for the opening statements is Mr. Forde, the expert group; Mr. Owens, Engineers Ireland; Ms Coulter, Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland; Ms Hone, Mica Action Group Donegal; Dr. Cleary, Clare Pyrite Action Group; and Ms Hegarty, North Mayo Pyrite Group.

I will read a note on privilege. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, to participate in public meetings. For those witnesses attending in the committee room, they 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 Cathaoirleach to ensure 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 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. For witnesses attending remotely, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a person who is physically present in the Leinster House complex does.

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 opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on our website after this meeting. I invite Mr. Forde to make his opening statement.