Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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The committee will continue its consideration of the topic on meeting current housing demand with representatives from the Community Action Network, Focus Ireland and Simon Communities of Ireland. I welcome Mr. Peter Dorman, Mr. John Burns, Ms Ciara Faughnan, Mr. Joe Donohue and Ms Lyndsey Anderson, the Community Action Network; Mr. Mike Allen, advocacy director, Mr. Mark Byrne, acting chief executive officer and Ms Martina Larkin, research and policy analyst, Focus Ireland; Mr. Sam McGuinness, head of Dublin Simon; Ms Louise Lennon, Simon national office, Mr. Pat Greene, Dublin Simon, Ms Helen McCormack, Simon national office, Simon Communities of Ireland. We will take the opening statements in alphabetical order.

I thank witnesses for their attendance.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements and any other documents witnesses have provided to the committee may be published on the committee's website after the conclusion of the meeting. Members 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.
We are discussing issues in the housing sector and using these exchanges to make a report to the Minister. We are all aware of the recent boom and bust economic cycle and the paucity, in particular, of social and voluntary housing and the re-emergence of a property bubble. We are looking forward to the views of the organisations on what is coming down the tracks and the issues that affect them.
I call Mr. Dorman to make his opening statement.