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

Unfortunately, we do not have much time for this session. We hope to have our guests back before for another meeting when we will have more time to interrogate them. We have approximately one hour and 15 minutes for this session. I welcome Ms Marie Bourke, principal officer in the climate action and economic infrastructure policy unit of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. Joining us online is Dr. Alan Power, assistant principal officer in the labour market and skills unit of the Department. Mr. Liam Curran, senior technologist in marine, water and wastewater technologies, Enterprise Ireland is with us in the committee room, as is Mr. Mark Christal, divisional manager for food and sustainability, Enterprise Ireland. From the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, we are joined by Mr. Martin Finucane, principal officer, and Ms Martina Hennessy, principal officer. They are very welcome. Joining us online from the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government is Mr. Conor McCabe, principal officer. From the Department of Finance, we are joined by Mr. David Owens, principal officer, and Ms Fiona Ralph. They are very welcome.

Before we begin, I will read out the note on privilege. I remind our guests 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. If their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction I give. For witnesses attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, 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 witness physically present on the Leinster House campus.

I invite Ms Bourke to make her opening statement.