Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We are meeting with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and the Central Statistics Office, CSO. I thank the witnesses for their attendance today, for the written submissions they sent us in advance and for the annual report of the RTB, which we have just been presented with. This follows on from a meeting we had some time ago following the discrepancy in figures about rental accommodation in the country. Both organisations agreed to do further research and come back. We are very grateful to them for coming back to help us get a better understanding of how they are assessing tenancies and the number of them we have.

We are joined today from the CSO by Mr. Richard McMahon, assistant director general. He is accompanied by Mr. Kieran Culhane and Mr. Cormac Halpin, senior statisticians. From the Residential Tenancies Board we are joined by Ms Rosemary Steen, director, Ms Louise Loughlin, deputy director, Ms Emer Morrissey, head of investigations and sanctions, and Ms Sinéad Murphy, head of communications. I thank the witnesses for their attendance. The relevant papers have been circulated to members.

I will read a short note on privilege before we begin. 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. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and it is my duty as Chairman to make sure they do not do so. 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 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.

After opening statements, we will go to members, who will have eight-minute segments to ask questions and receive answers. I invite the witnesses to make their opening statements, beginning with Mr. McMahon on behalf of the CSO and then going to Ms Steen from the RTB.