Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

Apologies have been received from Deputy Heneghan and Senator O'Donovan. The purpose of today's meeting is to engage with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to discuss its work in its role as Ireland's independent energy and water regulator. The witnesses from the CRU are: Mr. Jim Gannon, chairperson and commissioner; Dr. Tanya Harrington, commissioner; Mr. Fergal Mulligan, commissioner; Mr. Phil Hemmingway, director of decarbonisation; Ms Karen Kavanagh, director of networks and economic regulation; Ms Karen Trant, director of customer policy and protection; and Mr. John Melvin, director of security of supply and wholesale. I welcome them all to the meeting. I remind everyone to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent or switched off.

I wish to advise the witnesses of the following in relation to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses and members 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 a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

On the format of the meeting, I will shortly invite Mr. Gannon to make an opening statement for a maximum of ten minutes. Once the opening statement has been delivered, I will call on members of the committee in the order in which they indicate to me to put their questions. We operate a rota system that provides each member with an initial six minutes to engage with our witnesses. The six minutes are for both questions and answers. Therefore, it is essential for members to put their questions succinctly and witnesses to be succinct in their responses. When all members who have indicated have had their initial engagement, time permitting, a second round will commence. In that round, each member will have up to three minutes for questions and answers. Members attending who are not members of the committee will get an opportunity to speak once all members of the committee who have indicated have spoken. The duration of this meeting is limited and therefore the times must be strictly adhered to. I ask everybody to be focused in their contributions. I call Mr. Gannon to deliver his opening statement.