Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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Good afternoon, I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government, Deputy Peter Burke, to consider the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021. These have been referred to the committee by order of the Seanad, dated 12 July, and by order of the Dáil, dated 14 July. The briefing from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been circulated to members. The format of the meeting will be that I will first ask the Minister of State for his opening statement and then members will be invited to address their questions to the Minister of State.

I will read the note on privilege. Members attending remotely from within Leinster House are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say during the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative members comply with this direction. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present in the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin, in order to participate in public meetings. 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.

The opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting.