Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane-safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient for members just to put their phones on silent mode as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system. Apologies have been received from Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. Deputy Boyd Barrett will substitute for Deputy Ruth Coppinger.

At today's meeting we will resume consideration of item No. 1, the third quarterly progress report of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness and discussion of the issue of emergency accommodation, resumed from last Thursday. I welcome to our meeting Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General, Mr. David Walsh, Ms Mary Hurley, Ms Nina Murray and Mr. Barry Quinlan from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. Deputy Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, will join us as soon as he can, once Cabinet business has been concluded. At the request of the members of the committee, we will continue with the questions on the quarterly progress report that we did not reach at the previous meeting and then move to the issue of emergency accommodation at the end. Each member will be given roughly five minutes to engage with the witnesses, after which we will move to the next member. I ask members to respect the time as much as possible so that each member has the opportunity to speak. I can call members again if there is time at the end, which I hope there will be. I also ask members, where possible, to cite the location in the action plan of any reference to it in their questions. Members will be called in the order they indicate to ask questions.

Before we begin, I wish to draw the witnesses' attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence given to the committee.

However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 they 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.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call Senator Boyhan to put his questions. He can ask questions on all pillars as he was the only member who did not get to speak at the previous meeting.