Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received from members. I remind members, staff, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile phones which, as they are aware, interfere with the sound system. The public session will be followed by a short private session.

The two main delegates will be requested to speak for between five and ten minutes. Their contributions will be followed by a question and answer session. I suggest members limit their questions to between three and five minutes, but they may contribute a second time. I will work and co-operate with them, but I suggest this arrangement in the interests of fairness. Is that agreed? Agreed. The submissions, opening statements and any other document supplied by the delegates to the committee in advance will be published on its website after the meeting.

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. 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person 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.

This is the first of a series of meetings on the topic of sustainable small rural businesses, which is a priority in our work programme. I welcome Dr. Senan Cooke who is the author of a very fine publication, The Enterprising Community: A Bottom up Perspective on the Capacity within Communities to Regenerate, which was published recently and launched by the Minister, Deputy Michael Ring. Dr. Cooke has a very interesting CV which includes being a master glass cutter in Waterford Crystal and a lecturer at Dublin City University. He was involved in setting up the Copper Coast UNESCO geopark in Waterford, an example from which other parts of rural Ireland could benefit. I also welcome Mr. Eamonn O'Reilly, vice chairman of the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, and CEO of North East-West Kerry Development, and his colleagues, Mr. Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny LEADER partnership; Ms Martina Earley, CEO of Roscommon LEADER partnership; Mr. Jim Finn, chairperson of North Tipperary LEADER partnership; and Mr. Joe Saunders, manager of the ILDN.

I invite Dr. Cooke to make his opening statement.