Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From Bord na Móna, I welcome Mr. Ger Breen, head of land and habitats; Dr. John MacNamara, regulatory affairs manager, Mr. Mark McCorry, rehab and biodiversity lead; and Ms Doreen King, project manager of the peatlands climate action scheme. All witnesses are appearing remotely. We have received their opening statement which has been circulated to members. We are limited in our time due to Covid-19 safety restrictions and so the committee has agreed that opening statements be taken as read in order that we can make full use of the session for questions and answers.

I have an important note regarding parliamentary privilege. 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 do so, 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Participants in the meeting from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating within the parliamentary precincts do not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether, or the extent to which, their participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

We had stakeholders at this meeting earlier and this is a major project. The view is that it cannot be hurried or rushed. There has to be buy-in from the adjoining landowners and above all, a written agreement that will stand the test of time has to be put in place. All members have individual questions for the witnesses. I will let Senator Daly in first as he accommodated me in the previous session.