Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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At the request of 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 or turned to airplane, safe, or flight mode depending on their device. It is not sufficient to put phones on silent mode as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 6 on our agenda is energy efficient housing. On behalf of the committee, I welcome to today's meeting Mr. Pat Barry and Ms Marion Jammet from the Irish Green Building Council and Mr. Paul Kenny and Ms Kate Ruddock from the Tipperary Energy Agency.

Before we begin I will read a quick note on privilege. I wish to 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter but they 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. 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.