Chairman:

I welcome members and viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the third public session of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action. Before I introduce our witness today, at the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are turned off completely, or switched to aeroplane mode, as they interfere with the broadcasting system.

I would like to extend, on behalf of the committee, a warm welcome to Ms Marie Donnelly, who is a former director renewables, research and innovation and energy efficiency at the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission. Before we start proceedings, I want to get some formalities out of the way. I advise the witnesses 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 the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 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.

Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Ms Donnelly to make her opening statement.