Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At the request of the broadcasting and recording service, members and visitors in the Public Gallery 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 their device. It is not sufficient to put phones on silent mode, as this will maintain the level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 3 on the agenda today is the reclassification and future output of approved housing bodies, AHBs. I welcome to today's meeting Mr. Declan Dunne, Mr. John Hannigan and Mr. Brian O’Gorman from the Housing Alliance and Dr. Donal McManus, Ms Karen Murphy and Ms Tina Donaghy from the Irish Council for Social Housing, ICSH.

Before we begin I draw the attention of the witnesses 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 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 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 invite Mr. Declan Dunne to make the opening statement.