John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to engage with the chairperson-designate of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. We will discuss the approach she proposes to take if she is appointed to this role. We will hear her views on the challenges currently facing the authority. By now, we are all very aware of the Government decision of May 2011, which put new arrangements in place for the appointment of people to State boards and bodies. Reference to this arrangement is also made in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's guidelines on appointments to State boards, which were published in November 2014. The joint committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairperson-designate in public session to hear her views. We trust that this process provides for greater transparency in the process of appointment to State boards and bodies.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Julie O'Neill to today's meeting. I draw her 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 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 or her identifiable. I wish to advise Ms O'Neill that any submissions or opening statements she has submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. Members are reminded 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 O'Neill to make her opening remarks.