Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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We have no apologies. I wish to advise members of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. Today's discussion is on the Report of the Housing Commission. The Housing Commission was established in December 2021 by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and tasked to examine issues such as tenure standards, sustainability, quality of life issues in the provision of housing, including the efficient functioning of the markets for housing construction and provision. The commission reported in May 2024 with a total of 83 recommendations. The committee welcomes this engagement with the former members of the commission to discuss the report, with a focus on the current status of the recommendations and related matters.

I welcome Mr. John O'Connor, former CEO of the housing and sustainability communities agency, who chaired the Housing Commission; Ms Patricia King, former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; Mr. David O'Connor, architect and former Fingal county manager; Professor Ronan Lyons, associate professor in economics in Trinity College Dublin and director of Trinity research in social sciences; and Professor Michelle Norris, professor of social policy and director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy at University College Dublin, UCD.

We are joined online by Ms Sorcha Edwards, secretary general of Housing Europe, and Mr. Michael O'Flynn, chairman and CEO of the O'Flynn group.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses with regard to references witnesses may make to another person in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that 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 or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. 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.

The opening statements have been circulated to members in advance and we will take them as read. As agreed at our previous meeting, each member of the commission will have two minutes to make introductory remarks. I invite the former chair, Mr. John O'Connor, to make a statement.