Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. Susan Steele, chairperson of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, Mr. Micheál O'Mahony, authority member, Ms Margaret Stanley, PO in the Naval Service section in the Department of Defence, Commander Martin McGrath, Naval Service, and Mr. Brian Hogan, chief surveyor at the Marine Survey Office, to this meeting on non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet under the atypical worker permission scheme and related matters.

Before commencing, and in accordance with procedure, I am required to bring the witnesses' 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 it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 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. 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 remind our guests that their presentations should be no more than five minutes in duration. The presentations have been circulated to members today. I invite Dr. Steele to begin.