Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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I welcome everyone. Today the committee meets to discuss discrepancies in data collection in the private rental sector. We are joined by Mr. Cormac Halpin, senior statistician with responsibility for census outputs, and Mr. Kieran Culhane, senior statistician with responsibility for the statistical systems co-ordination unit, Central Statistics Office, CSO. They are very welcome and I thank them for their time. We are also joined by Mr. Niall Byrne, director, and Ms Lucia Crimin, deputy director, Residential Tenancies Board, RTB; and Dr. Michael Byrne, school of social policy, social work and social justice, University College Dublin, UCD. I thank them for their attendance.

The minutes have been circulated and I thank the witnesses for their opening statements, which were submitted in advance. They have been circulated to members.

Before we continue, I will read a quick note on privilege. I wish to remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. For those witnesses attending in the committee room, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meeting. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. Both members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members and witnesses 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 House or an official by name either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. As I mentioned, the opening statements will be published on the committee website after this meeting.

I will invite the witnesses to make their opening statements. I will first call Mr. Halpin, followed by Mr. Byrne and Dr. Byrne. We have competition with the budget, hence the sparse attendance at this meeting. There will be seven-minute segments for members to ask questions and the witnesses to respond.

I think we have a bit of time today. I call Mr. Halpin.