Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 2019

Business of Select Committee

Chairman

This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration by this committee of the Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019. I welcome the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and his officials.

At the request of broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient to put phones on silent mode, as it maintains a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

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.

Before we proceed to consideration of the Bill, I call Deputy Ó Broin.

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin

I am sure all members of the committee are aware of the work Simon Brooke has done on housing policy over the years and most of us have engaged with him. Very tragically and suddenly, he passed away yesterday. Because he was a regular attendee at the committee, I thought it would be appropriate for the committee to write to his family and express our condolences on his passing. I can pass on the contact details to the Clerk.

Chairman

Thank you. We will certainly proceed to do that.