Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received. Deputy Shanahan is substituting for Deputy Lowry. The matter at hand is Review to Renew, the public consultation on the national development plan, NDP. The purpose of our meeting is to examine the national development plan with a view to making a submission to the consultation process. From Irish Rail I welcome Mr. Jim Meade, chief executive, Mr. Peter Muldoon, director of capital investment and Mr. Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager. From the Port of Cork Company I welcome Mr. Eoin McGettigan, CEO, and Mr. Henry Kingston, port engineering manager. I welcome also Mr. Frank Ronan, chief executive at the Port of Waterford, Mr. Colin Dunne, joint managing director at International Warehousing and Transport and Mr. Glenn Carr, general manager, rail freight and Rosslare Europort. I thank the witnesses for attending at such short notice.

All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that 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 or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. For witnesses attending remotely outside the Leinster House campus there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege. As such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does. Witnesses participating in this committee session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should be mindful that domestic law could be applied to the evidence they give.

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. I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House campus. In this regard, I ask all members, prior to making their contributions, to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

For those watching this meeting online, Oireachtas members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Only the Chairman and staff essential to the running of the meeting are physically present in the committee room. Due to these unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask everyone to bear with us should any technical issues arise.

I call on Mr. Meade to make his opening statement. As the meeting is limited to two hours due to Covid measures, I ask that he limit his remarks to five minutes.