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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Whitmore. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the impact on carbon budgets arising from the growing trend in car sales towards heavier and larger vehicles, such as sports utility vehicles, SUVs. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Professor Hannah Daly, professor in sustainable energy and energy systems modelling at University College Cork, UCC, MaREI; Mr. James Nix, climate director of Transport & Environment in Brussels; Dr. Peter Mock, managing director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, ICTT, Europe; and Mr. Apostolos Petropoulos of the International Energy Agency. I thank them for attending at short notice. This was a quickly arranged meeting and we appreciate them doing so.

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 nor 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 respect of an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative they comply with any such direction. For witnesses attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, as are all of today's guests, there are limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present in the room.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 ask members who are joining online to confirm, by sending a note to the clerk to the committee, that they are participating from the Leinster House complex.

I invite Professor Daly to make her opening statement.