Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Our witnesses today are from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. They are: Dr. Tom Ryan, director of the office of environmental enforcement; Dr. Michelle Minihan, senior inspector; Mr. Noel Byrne, programme manager at the office of environmental enforcement; and Ms Mary Gurrie, programme manager at the office of evidence and assessment. Members have been circulated with the opening statements from the EPA. I will ask Dr. Ryan for his opening statement and members will then be invited to address their questions. I ask them to please remember to confine their questions to five minutes at first if possible and they may be able to come back in after that.

Members and witnesses attending remotely from within the Leinster House complex are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. 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 such a direction if given. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. They 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 submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. I now invite Dr. Ryan to make his opening statement.