Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Denis Maher of the fisheries and corporate services division of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Dr. Ciarán Byrne, CEO, and Ms Suzanne Campion from Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI; Dr. Ciarán O'Keeffe, principal officer and chief scientific officer of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and Dr. Eamonn Kelly, wildlife inspector with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I thank them all for coming. The joint sub-committee was established to focus on communities and the socioeconomics and promotion of sustainable industries. The main industries identified by the sub-committee are aquaculture, island and coastal fisheries, inshore fisheries, with a particular emphasis on sea angling, and tourism. We are here to hear the views of the witnesses' Departments or agencies.

Before we begin, I note to witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this joint sub-committee. If they are directed by the sub-committee to cease giving evidence with regard to a particular matter but continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise nor make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I understand that Mr. Denis Maher will make an opening statement and Dr. Ciarán Byrne will make a presentation on sea angling in Ireland.