Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We are now in public session. The next item on the agenda is the scrutiny of EU proposal COM (2013) 133 for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management. At last week's meeting, the committee agreed that this proposal warranted further scrutiny, especially concerning issues surrounding the principle of subsidiarity. I wish to thank officials from the four Departments concerned for being here today at short notice to explain fully the proposal before us and also to assist the committee in its scrutiny. The committee can then decide whether it wishes to take any further action.

I welcome the following officials: Mr. John Quinlan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Ms Lorraine O'Donoghue, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; Ms Una Dixon, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and Mr. Martin Diskin and Mr. Séamus Ryan, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I understand that Mr. Quinlan and Ms O'Donoghue will make the opening remarks. I will then call on members to ask questions, if they have any. The officials can then respond as they see fit.

Before we begin, I wish to bring to their attention the fact that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given.

Witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Ms Lorraine O'Donoghue to make her opening remarks.