Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

Apologies have been received from Senators Mark Duffy and Alice-Mary Higgins.

The first item on the agenda is the engagement with stakeholders on the Coastal Lagoons: Ecology and Restoration, CLEAR, report on Lady's Island Lake in County Wexford. The purpose of this meeting is to engage with a number of stakeholders on this EPA funded report. Although representatives from the EPA were invited, they were unable to attend due to their commitment to hosting a water conference in Galway today. I would like to place on the record our appreciation for submissions on this topic provided by An Taisce, Coastwatch, Teagasc and Mr. Jim Hurley.

I welcome the following witnesses to this meeting: Brendan O'Connor, co-author of the report; Dr. Cilian Roden, co-author of the report; and Dr. Eddie McCormack, associate director, Aquafact; Mr. Eamonn Hore, deputy chief executive; Mr. Brendan Cooney, senior executive scientist; and Mr. Eoin Kinsella, executive agricultural scientist, Wexford County Council; and Ms Caitriona Ryan, director of national parks and nature reserves; Ms Ciara O'Mahony, divisional manager eastern division; and Dr. Andy Bleasdale, director of scientific advice and research, National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. I remind everybody in attendance, including myself, that their phones should be switched to silent or off.

Before I invite the witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I want to advise everybody of the following in respect of parliamentary privilege: members and witnesses are reminded 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 otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if members' statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

In terms of the format of the meeting, I will invite each organisation in turn to make an opening statement for a maximum of five minutes. Once all opening statements have been delivered, I will call on the members of the committee in the order in which they indicate to put their questions. The committee will operate a rota system that provides each member with an initial six minutes to engage with the witnesses. It is important to note that the six minutes is for both questions and answers, and, therefore, it is essential for members to put their questions succinctly and for witnesses to be succinct in their responses. When all members who have indicated have had their initial engagement and, time permitting, a second round will commence where each member will have to up to three minutes for both questions and answers with our witnesses. Please note that the duration of this meeting is limited and, therefore, the times must be strictly adhered to. I ask everybody to focus on their contributions and co-operate with me as I try to move business along.

I call on each organisation to deliver an opening statement as follows: Dr. Brendan O'Connor, Aquafact and co-author of the report; Mr. Eamonn Hore, Wexford County Council and Ms Ciara O'Mahony, NPWS