Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everybody to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The committee meets this afternoon as part of the consultation on the draft national planning framework, NPF. We are joined by the following officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Mr. Paul Hogan, acting assistant secretary in the planning division; Ms Alma Walsh, senior planner; Ms Karen Kenny, senior planner; Ms Laura Courtney, planning adviser; and Mr. Colin Fulcher, planning adviser. The witnesses are all welcome and I thank them for their attendance.

The draft national planning framework is a vitally important document. It is an overarching national planning document. We only received a draft copy yesterday. Consultation with the committee is part of putting together the framework. I propose that the committee have a further meeting on this matter early in September, after we have had time to go through the document.

We are probably quite limited in the engagement today because we have not had time to go through the 200-page document. However, we all have a keen interest in it. I would not want anybody to think this is one and only consultation the committee is going to have. We have a couple of month's worth of summer holiday reading for everybody here.

I will outline a quick note on privilege before we start. I remind members of the constitutional requirement they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. Those witnesses attending the committee room are protected by absolute privilege in respect of contributions made to today's meeting. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything said at the meeting. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that 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 or entity outside the Houses, or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Hogan to make the opening statement on behalf of the Department. Then we will go to members for questions.