This meeting has been convened to consider Committee Stage of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017. Before we begin, 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also remind the Minister, her officials, members and visitors to ensure their mobile phones are switched off as they interfere with the recording equipment.
We are joined this morning by my constituency colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to whom I extend a very warm welcome and an official from the Department of Justice and Equality, whom I also welcome.
On behalf of the Select Committee on Justice and Equality I extend a warm welcome to Senator Robbie Gallagher, one of the sponsors of the Bill initiated in the Seanad, and all of the people, primarily from County Monaghan, who are in the Visitors Gallery.
I now invite the Minister, Deputy Humphreys to make her opening remarks.