Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask that all mobile telephones be switched off. This is important as the broadcasting unit has indicated there still are serious problems with mobile telephones being switched on. The joint committee will have two separate sessions today, both of which concern the provision of insurance in areas at risk of flooding and subsidence. I remind members that the joint committee will deal with correspondence and other agenda items in private at the end of our second session this afternoon.

Session A, which has expert witnesses, is part of the committee's deliberations on this topic. We have invited Mr. Lawrence Owens from the Cork Business Association and Dr. Swenja Surminski from the London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE, to share their insights and I welcome both witnesses to the meeting. Mr. Owens is the chief executive of the Cork Business Association, which represents more than 150 businesses in Cork city. The city of Cork is prone to flooding and many of the businesses represented by the Cork Business Association have serious concerns regarding the level of flood insurance cover on offer at present and in the immediate future. Dr. Surminski is a senior research fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, which is part of the LSE. Dr. Surminski is a programme leader for the "climate risk, insurance and private sector" work-stream at the institute. Prior to joining the LSE, Dr. Surminski spent more than ten years in the insurance industry working on climate and risk management. The format of the session is that Mr. Owens first will make some opening remarks, which will then be followed by those of Dr. Surminski. A question and answer session will follow to qualify any matters. I remind members, witnesses and those in the public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off.

I advise the witnesses 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only 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 and 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. Finally, members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or persons outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask Mr. Owens to begin.