Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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This meeting has been convened to discuss pre-legislative scrutiny of the housing (regulation of approved housing bodies) Bill 2015 and related matters. The heads of the Bill and all the documents are available on the committee's website and members of the public are welcome to make comments. Is that agreed? Agreed.

From the housing division of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government I welcome Mr. Damian Allen, Ms Sheila Power and Mr. Andrew Harkin; from Co-operative Housing Ireland, I welcome Mr. Kieron Brennan, chief executive, and Mr. Dermot Sellars; and from the Irish Council for Social Housing, I welcome Mr. Donal McManus, chief executive officer, Ms Karen Murphy, director of policy and Mr. Justin O’Brien, president

I draw witnesses' attention to the fact that 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 committee. However, if directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

It is proposed that the opening statements and any further documentation supplied may be published on the committee website after the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I ask those speaking on behalf of the groups to keep their opening statements to approximately five minutes, as the general gist of what they will say is well documented. I call on Mr. Damian Allen to make his opening statement.