Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones.

I welcome Ms Melanie Gomes from BirdWatch Ireland and thank her forming before the committee today. Ms Gomes wrote to me requesting permission to make a presentation to the committee on the setting of total allowable catches and quotas for 2015 in advance of the Council of the European Union meeting in December. The committee is happy to oblige.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they 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 qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.