Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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We have resumed in public session. At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are switched off completely or turned to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient to put their phones on silent mode as it may maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

In our second session today we will resume detailed scrutiny of the Anti-Evictions Bill 2018 and the Residential Tenancies (Greater Security of Tenure and Rent Certainty) Bill 2018. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Irish Property Owners Association Ms Margaret McCormick and Mr. Tom O’Brien; from the Union of Students in Ireland I welcome Ms Michelle Byrne and Ms Megan Reilly; and from Threshold I welcome Mr John-Mark McCafferty and Ms Ann-Marie O'Reilly.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the joint committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, 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 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Ms Margaret McCormick from the Irish Property Owners Association to make her opening statement.