Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile phones when attending meetings. We have received apologies from Deputies Terence Flanagan and Ann Phelan.

No. 1 is a meeting with officials from the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The purpose of this part of today's meeting is to hear from officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on COM (2013) 18, a draft EU directive relating to the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Laura Behan and Ms Denise Keoghan of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Mr. John Rice of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I wish to draw their attention to the fact that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are 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 or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise that any submission or opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. I remind members 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 invite Ms Behan to make her opening statement.