Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and remind those in attendance to make sure that their mobile phones are switched off or in silent mode.

Any members of the committee who wish to attend this meeting remotely must do so from within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit. In today’s case, following agreement of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Parliament precincts include Árainn Mhór. This is the first time that the parliamentary precincts have included an offshore island.

This meeting is the first official Oireachtas business to be held on an offshore island. It signifies the importance of involving all people of Ireland in the democratic process. We as members of this committee have a responsibility to represent the interests, concerns and aspirations of island communities throughout our country. However, to effectively do this, we must actively engage with you. That is why the members of this committee were determined to ensure that Ireland’s first ever live parliamentary broadcast outside the city of Dublin would take place on an offshore island. In fact, I believe this may very well be the first live broadcast of a national parliamentary hearing on an offshore island globally.

Through the participation of all involved here today in this historic meeting, we are demonstrating how broadband technology can bring parliamentary democracy closer to the people. I hope this can act as a beacon of best practice for other parliamentary committees, in Ireland and elsewhere.

We are grateful to the islanders who have facilitated the broadcast of this live meeting and for affording members the opportunity to see how advances in communications technology allow people a real and sustainable way to live and work remotely in rural areas.

Today we will hear of the unique challenges faced by island communities but we will also hear of solutions, which, if adopted, not only can address these challenges but can help support isolated communities across Ireland and across the world.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references you may make to any other person in your evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they may say in this meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure that privilege is not abused.

However, one of today’s witnesses is giving her evidence remotely from a place outside the parliamentary precincts and, as such, may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does. Such witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The committee will now consider the operation of the national and local policies that affect islanders. To this end, we will discuss the following: climate neutrality and biodiversity on the islands with representatives of Comharchumann Fuinnimh Oileáin Árann Teoranta, Aran Islands Energy Co-operative; housing and sustaining communities on offshore islands with academics from University College Cork's school of applied of social sciences and representatives of the island communities, namely, Comhar na nOileán and Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann; and e-health and living longer in the islands with representatives from the health innovation via engineering, HIVE, lab at University of Galway and one of the general practitioners serving Clare Island and Inishbiggle. These issue are of critical importance to this committee and have been a focus of ongoing work of the committee, including the examination of the sustainable development goals and public service performance targets. The issues also encompass my role as chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union working group on science and technology, which has a global remit to develop greater engagement between the scientific community and national parliaments.

I welcome the manager of Comharchumann Fuinnimh Oileáin Árann Teoranta, the Aran Islands Energy Co-operative, Ms Avril Ní Shearcaigh, who is joining remotely. I invite Ms Ní Shearcaigh to make her opening statement.