Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mr. Ken Spratt, assistant secretary responsible for energy; Ms Mairéad McCabe, principal officer in the energy planning and electricity corporate division; Mr. Stjohn O'Connor, principal officer in the energy efficiency and affordability division; and Mr. Brian Carroll, principal officer in the renewable and sustainable energy division. I welcome the delegates from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mr. Paul McKiernan, principal officer; Ms Margaret Murray, assistant principal officer; Mr. John Muldowney, agriculture inspector; and Mr. Eugene Hendrick, senior inspector, forest service. They are present on behalf of the climate change and bio-energy policy division of their Department. I welcome the delegates from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mr. John Fearon, assistant secretary with responsibility for sustainable transport; Ms Laura Behan, principal officer; and Ms Denise Keoghane, assistant principal officer in the sustainable transport division.

I draw the attention of witnesses 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 the evidence they give to the committee. However, if directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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.

Witnesses’ opening statements and other documents supplied to the committee may be published on the committee's website following this meeting. 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The committee is currently considering the outline heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. It is essential that we hear the views of the various Departments before moving on to the stakeholders. We have already engaged with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on this issue. Accordingly, I am delighted to have the other key Department heads before us today. I ask them to concentrate specifically on the heads of the Bill and to outline to us the salient points in regard to each head. I invite Mr. Spratt to address the committee.