Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Mr. Jerry Early, Mr. James O'Toole, Mr. Enda Conneely and Mr. John Walsh from the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation. I thank them for coming before the committee today to brief it on the progress being made on the recommendations in the report of the Oireachtas Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries on promoting sustainable rural coastal and island communities.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an 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, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Questions are being put to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Dáil. We delayed the meeting for half an hour to facilitate Priority Questions and we anticipate that Deputies Éamon Ó Cuív and Martin Ferris will be along as soon as they can.

I believe they have been circulated with the briefing document. That is the reason they are not here at the moment, but it is hoped they will be here as quickly as possible.