Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from Irish Water Mr. Jerry Grant, managing director, and Ms Trudy Higgins, environment strategy lead; from the Commission of Energy Regulation, CER, Dr. Paul McGowan and Ms Sheenagh Rooney; and from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Mr. Dara Lynott, deputy director general; Mr. David Flynn, programme manager, and Mr. Noel Byrne, senior manager. We will engage with them on the recent decision by the European Commission to take Ireland to the European Court of Justice for its failure to ensure urban wastewater in 38 agglomerations across the country was adequately collected and treated to prevent serious risk to human health and the environment

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 joint committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, 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 and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Grant to make his presentation on behalf of Irish Water.