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

I welcome members back after the summer break. At the outset, the purpose of the meeting today is to discuss energy security, including supply and demand, electricity generation capacity, plans to best manage supply and demand and, of course, to protect vulnerable users in the coming months.

On behalf of this committee I welcome the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his officials, Mr. Matt Collins assistant secretary; Mr. Noel Regan, principal officer; Mr. Paul McAufield, assistant principal; and Mr. Robert Deegan, principal officer. From the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, we have Ms Aoife MacEvilly, who is the chair; Mr. Jim Gannon, commissioner; Mr. John Melvin, director of security of supply and wholesale; and Dr. Paul McGowan, commissioner. They are all very welcome. I also welcome our representatives from EirGrid, Mr. Mark Foley, chief executive, Dr. Liam Ryan and Mr. Rodney Doyle, chief operations officer. They are also all very welcome today.

As usual, I will begin with the note on privilege. I remind witnesses 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 to 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 relation to an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction. We do not have any witnesses who are attending from outside the Leinster House campus. 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. I want to remind members who are joining online that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are on the Leinster House complex. If any member joins online, they should confirm that they are indeed on the Leinster House campus.

I will begin by calling on the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for his opening statement.