Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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I give the usual advice about mobile telephones. RTE will not cover the proceedings if they are on because they interfere with the sound system. I ask Members to bear that in mind and to turn them off.

We are going to discuss the topic of climate change with officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. I welcome Mr. John McCarthy, assistant secretary, environment division, Mr. Owen Ryan, principal officer, climate policy, and Ms Caroline Lyons, assistant principal officer, climate policy, of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; Dr. Rory O'Donnell, director, Dr. Larry O'Connell, senior economist, Mr. Noel Cahill, economist, Dr. Jeanne Moore, social policy analyst, of the National Economic and Social Council; and Dr. Frank McGovern of the Environmental Protection Agency.

I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to section 17(2)(l ) of the Defamation Act 2009 who are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified or partial privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to given and they 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. I also advise that the opening statements may appear on the Oireachtas website post the deliberations here this afternoon. I remind Members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Before commencing I wish to say a few words. We have been asked by the Minister to initiate the process with a view to preparing and finalising legislation around climate change. We are going to invite a number of witnesses in the coming weeks and will build on those exchanges and their experience in order to provide a report to the Minister. We have received more than 40 submissions. We will consider them all and how to deal with them in private session later this afternoon. At the discretion of the committee we will invite some of those representatives who made submissions to appear before the committee and will engage in public debate with them in a transparent manner in order to provide the best possible report to the Minister when we conclude proceedings. It is fitting to begin with three key players - the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the National Economic and Social Council and the Environmental Protection Agency. We are mindful of the roles these organisations play in the whole issue of the environment. I invite Mr. John McCarthy to begin his presentation.