Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Professor John Sweeney of Maynooth University and an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, contributing member and Dr. Andrew Jackson of the Sutherland School of Law in University College Dublin. Our witnesses are appearing remotely from outside the Leinster House complex. They will be invited to make a brief opening statement which will be followed by a question and answer session. 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. I also wish to advise the witnesses giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts to note that the constitutional protections afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before committees may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether or the extent to which evidence given is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature. If the witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they must respect that direction. I also wish to advise them that any submission or opening statements made to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode. They interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting, while television and web streaming will be adversely effected.

We will go into private session for a moment while we fix some technical problems.