Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon. I welcome everyone to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Today, the committee meets with Uisce Éireann, Irish Water. I welcome to the committee Mr. Niall Gleeson, chief executive officer, Ms Margaret Attridge, head of water operations, and Ms Angela Ryan, asset strategy senior manager. We have received their opening statement in advance and we thank them for that. I will read a brief note on privilege before we start.

I wish to remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. For those witnesses attending in the committee room, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today's meetings. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. Members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privileges they enjoy and it is my duty as chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

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

I invite Mr. Gleeson to make his opening statement. As part of that opening statement, could he comment on the recent fish kill in the River Allow? It is a very important piece of aquatic marine ecology and it is in an special area of conservation, SAC. It is a very important spawning ground for salmon and freshwater pearl mussel. It is heartbreaking for us to see fish kills of any type for whatever reason. As we know, our biodiversity is struggling at the moment, so I am wondering if Mr. Gleeson could include something on that in his opening statement or comment on it during the course of the meeting.