Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At today's meeting we will discuss Brexit, the Good Friday-Belfast Agreement, the environmental issues arising and possible solutions.

I remind members, delegates and persons in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode depending on the device. It is not sufficient for members to put their phones on silent mode as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system. I also remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

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 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.

I welcome Ms Alison Hough, assistant lecturer in law at Athlone Institute of Technology and Oonagh Duggan of Birdwatch Ireland. They are very welcome. We will hear their opening statements before going into a question and answer session with members of the committee. I call on them to make their opening statements.