Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Frank O'Rouke and Senator Paul Coghlan.

We are resuming our engagement on the future of Europe. On behalf of the members of the joint committee, I welcome Dr. Eoin O'Neill and Dr. Finbarr Brereton, lecturers in environmental policy at the Earth Institute, UCD; and Mr. Michael Ewing, co-ordinator, and Mr. Oisín Coghlan, director, Friends of the Earth, and member of the steering committee of the Environmental Pillar. We appreciate their taking time out of their busy schedules to come here. The committee was very impressed by their submissions on the future of Europe and potential environmental impacts. All members of the committee are well aware of the detail of the European Commission's White Paper. However, the two submissions brought up the issue of potential environmental impacts. We are, therefore, greatly interested in the input of the delegates. I suggest they make their opening statements before taking questions from members. If we do not have many members present, it is because they are giving evidence to or are tied up at other committees. The delegates must understand all of what we will say will be recorded. Those who are absent will be able to access what the delegates will have said. It is not as if the delegates will only be talking to those of us who are present.

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 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 are 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.

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 Dr. O'Neill and Dr. Brereton to make their opening statement.