Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon everybody and you are welcome to the finance committee this afternoon. I apologise for the delay in getting started. I welcome to the meeting from the Department of housing Mr. Derek Rafferty, principal officer, and Mr. John Wickham, senior adviser in building standards; from the Department of Finance Ms Louise Heenan, principal officer, and Ms Aileen Gleeson, principal officer; and from the Central Bank of Ireland, CBI, Mr. Wesley Murphy, head of consumer protection supervision. You are very welcome and I thank you for your attendance and for assisting the committee in our further discussions. This is our second meeting on this matter.

I will read a quick note on privilege before we proceed. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her of it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue your remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members 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 remind members who might be attending remotely of the constitutional requirement that members 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.

I will invite opening statements from our witnesses in the order of Mr. Rafferty first, followed by Ms Gleeson and then Mr. Murphy. Mr. Rafferty may make his opening statement.