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

Good morning. Some members are in the room and some are in their offices in Leinster House. I have received apologies from Deputies Alan Farrell and Bríd Smith and from Senators Alice-Mary Higgins and Pauline O’Reilly. I understand that Deputy Paul Murphy will act as substitute for Deputy Smith.

The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the committee’s examination of the Citizen’s Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss. On behalf of the committee, I would like to welcome the following representatives from the citizens' assembly: Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, chair; Dr. Mícheál Ó Cinnéide, member of the expert advisory group; Professor Tas Crowe, vice president for sustainability at University College Dublin and a member of the expert advisory group; and Dr. James Moran, senior lecturer in ecology at Atlantic Technical University, who is also a member of the expert advisory group and no stranger to the committee. We are particularly delighted to welcome two members of the citizens' assembly, Ms Anne Jones from County Clare and Mr. Patrick Joyce from Tuam in County Galway. I thank them all for the work they have done in recent years. It is a very significant report and I believe that, in time, it will prove to be a seminal report on how we deal with biodiversity and address the challenges we have. I thank them for coming up today. This is an important step in the process of achieving political consensus around how we deal with biodiversity in this country.

Before we begin, I will read a note on privilege to remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 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.

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 remind members that they are allowed to participate in the meeting only if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. I ask those members who are joining the meeting remotely that, prior to making their contributions, they confirm they are on the Leinster House campus.

I call Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin to make her opening statement.