Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Dr. Cecil Beamish, assistant secretary, and Mr. John Quinlan and Ms Josephine Kelly, principal officers, and thank them for appearing before the committee.

The Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries was established to focus on the socioeconomic situation and on promoting sustainable industries. The main industries identified by the joint sub-committee in this regard are aquaculture, island and coastal fisheries and inshore fisheries, specifically sea angling combined with tourism. The joint sub-committee had intended to have officials from the three relevant Departments at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. However, I understand that those who were with us earlier will not be available to attend. I thank them for agreeing to meet us this afternoon.

Before we begin, I am obliged to remind witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this joint sub-committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence with regard to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise nor make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call on Dr. Beamish to make his opening statement.