Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome Mr. Jerry Mac Evilly, Trócaire, Dr. Cara Augustenborg, Friends of the Earth, and Professor John Sweeney, An Taisce, climate change committee. As members will recall, in December, representatives from almost 200 nations approved the landmark Paris agreement at COP21. Prior to COP21, we met representatives of Stop Climate Chaos and at the meeting, it was requested that we would invite the representatives back following the conference. Today is the first opportunity we have had to reflect on the outcomes of the decisions made at COP21. We are interested to hear the witnesses' interpretation of the deal, their views on the implementation of the agreement and how they may impact on various sectors both here and abroad. The format of today's meeting is that we will have an opening statement, which will be accompanied by an audiovisual presentation. We will then take questions from members.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to ensure that their mobile phones are completely switched off for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference, even on silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee room. Today's meeting is also being broadcast live across the various media platforms.

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 or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

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 witnesses are directed by the Chairman 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 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, her or it identifiable.

I call on Mr. Mac Evilly to make his opening statement.