Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Everybody is very welcome this morning. I hope everybody had a nice break over Easter. The committee is meeting in public session to consider the national marine planning framework. I have received apologies from Senator Victor Boyhan. Deputy Ó Murchú will substitute for Deputy Gould. I also have apologies from Deputy Duffy.

To discuss the national marine planning framework, we are joined remotely by witnesses from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr. Conor McCabe, Mr. Tom Woolley, Mr. Martin O'Meara, Ms Juliet Fitzpatrick, Ms Marie Duffin, Ms Tracey O'Connor; from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications we are joined by Ms Anne-Marie Clancy; and from the Marine Institute we are joined by Ms Caitriona Nic Aonghusa. Members have been circulated with the opening statements. They are available on MS Teams. I will invite the witnesses to make their opening statements and then we will revert to questions and answers.

I have a note on privilege. Members attending from their Oireachtas offices are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their participation in this meeting. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. For witnesses attending remotely, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a person who is physically present. Members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House in order to participate in the public 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. The opening statements will be published on the committee's website after this meeting.

I invite Mr. Conor McCabe to make his opening statement.