Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Susan Steele, chairperson, Mr. Micheál O'Mahony and Mr. Andrew Kinneen, members of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, and I thank you all for coming before the committee to brief us on SI 3 of 2014 concerning the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations for 2014.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or 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 now call on Ms Steele to make the authority's opening statement.