Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome members and viewers who are watching proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action. I remind people to turn off their mobile phones or to switch them to flight mode because they interfere with the sound system.

On behalf of the committee, I extend a warm welcome to Mr. James Cogan and Mr. Padraic O'Neill from Ethanol Europe. We also welcome Professor Edgar Morgenroth from DCU business school and, from the Irish Composites Centre, Dr. Terry McGrail and Dr. Water Stanley.

I will address some formalities before we commence formal proceedings. I wish to advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they 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 call on Mr. Cogan from Ethanol Europe to make his opening statement,.