Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Sean Sherlock and Tony McLoughlin and Senators Gerard P. Craughwell, Denis Landy and Niall Ó Donnghaile.

I welcome our guests from Northern Ireland Environment Link, a networking forum and body for organisations interested in the natural and built environment of Northern Ireland. The delegates are Mr. Sean Kelly, developmental manager,; Diane Ruddock, external affairs manager; Ms Rebecca Hunter, living seas manager, Ulster Wildlife; and Mr. John Martin, conservation team leader. I hope I got all their titles correct. They may correct me if I have not. Also present is Mr. Michael Ewing, representing the Environmental Pillar, which represents NGOs that work together to represent the views of the Irish environmental sector. They are all very welcome. Some of them will make opening comments, after which we will take questions from the floor. We will take a number of contributions together.

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, her or it identifiable.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this committee. However, if they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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.

Ms Ruddock is going to commence with her opening statement. We will then take questions.