Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

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 airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient to put phones on silent mode as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

In our second session today we resume our discussion on energy efficient heating. I welcome Mr. Jim Gannon, Mr. Jim Scheer and Ms. Orla Coyle from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI; Mr. Seán Armstrong and Mr. Alyn Deane from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; and Mr. Robert Deegan and Ms Eileen O’Connor from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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 any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Deegan to make his opening statement.