Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In this session we will hear from officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to emission ceilings.

Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that witnesses have full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed by the Chair to cease giving evidence on an issue. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third person or entity.

Witnesses who are giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses, outside the proceedings held by the committee, of any matter arising from the proceedings.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to utterances of members participating online in this committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurance in relation to participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when they are contributing.

We are joined from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by Ms Edwina Love, principal officer, Mr. Fergus Moore, senior inspector, Mr. Dale Crammond, agricultural inspector, and Mr. Philip Blackwell, agricultural inspector. From the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, we are joined by Mr. Marc Kierans, principal officer, Mr. Neil Gannon, assistant principal officer, Ms Niamh Gibbons, assistant principal officer, and Mr. Rob Barnes, assistant principal officer.

I call on the officials to make their opening statements, commencing with those from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.