Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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I welcome everybody to the meeting. This is our final meeting of pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the land value sharing and urban development zones Bill 2022. I welcome from the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, IPAV, Mr. Donald MacDonald, director of Hooke and MacDonald, and Mr. Patrick Davitt, chief executive of IPAV. From the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Home Builders Association, IHBA, we are joined by Mr. Conor O'Connell, director of housing and planning; Mr. Hubert Fitzpatrick, director general designate of the CIF; and Mr. Michael Kelleher, chairman of the IHBA. They are very welcome. From Irish Institutional Property, IIP, we are joined by Mr. Pat Farrell, CEO, and Mr. Brian Moran, chair of the IIP research committee. I thank them all for attending and assisting us in dealing with this important planning legislation. We have had several sessions with other experts and we are keen to hear the witnesses' perspective and views. Many of them have been here before and know the routine we follow.

I will read a short note on privilege before we begin. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, to participate in public meetings. Witnesses attending in the committee room are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meeting. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. We do not have any witnesses attending remotely. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy. It is my duty as Chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. Members and witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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. MacDonald to make his opening statement.