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

On behalf of the committee, I welcome our witnesses. Some are new faces and some have been here a few times. From the Irish Energy Storage Association, we have: Mr. Paddy Phelan, president; Mr. Eugene Coughlan, former deputy commissioner at the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; and Mr. Frank Burke, technical adviser, who is joining us online. They are very welcome. From Energy Storage Ireland, we have Mr. Bobby Smith and Mr. Bernice Doyle. They are very welcome. From the Demand Response Association of Ireland, we have Ms Siobhán McHugh, CEO, and Dr. Paddy Finn, chairperson. They are welcome. From Eirgrid, we have some familiar faces. I welcome back: Mr. Mark Foley, CEO; Mr. Liam Ryan, chief innovation and planning officer; and Mr. Padraig Slyne, who works on the public affairs side.

As usual, I will begin with the note on privilege. I remind our guests of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity outside the Houses 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. For the one witness who is joining us remotely today, Mr. Burke, there are limitations to parliamentary privilege. As such, he may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as those who are physically present.