David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of this part of the meeting is to have an engagement on the possible benefits of e-conveyancing. On behalf of the joint committee, I welcome Mr. Frank Treacy, Mr. James O’Boyle and Mr. Peter McHugh from the Property Registration Authority and thank them for their attendance. Mr. John O'Sullivan is the chief executive-designate of the body to be established following the merger of the Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office. That is three into one and I thank him for that. We also are joined by Mr. Patrick Dorgan and Dr. Gabriel Brennan from the Law Society of Ireland, who are welcome and who I thank for their time, as well as by Mr. Dennis Barnhart of Teranet Incorporated. While the Irish Banking Federation also had wished to be in attendance, it has been unable to so do due to other commitments. However, it has provided a written submission for the information of the joint committee.

The format for this session is that I will invite witnesses to make a brief opening statement lasting five minutes, which will be followed by a question and answer session.

Before we begin I draw witnesses' attention to the position on privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it 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 the proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

We will now hear all about the exciting issue of e-conveyancing. I know the witnesses will make the matter easy for us to understand. I invite Mr. Treacy to make his opening statement.