Chairman:

I thank Dr. Heffernan for the comprehensive answers to the questions today. It was a thought-provoking and enlightening discussion. I thank Dr. Heffernan for coming before us with his team and for the invitation to the two conferences in Galway next year, which I am sure the committee will be delighted to take up. As I said earlier, the committee will have numerous discussions on Brexit. I look forward to the contribution of the Marine Institute to that debate from a marine point of view. We will extend an invitation to the Marine Institute early in the new year if possible.

I welcome the representatives of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, Ms Tara McCarthy, chief executive, whom I wish well in her new appointment; Mr. Donal Buckley, business development and innovation director; and Mr. Michael Keatinge, fisheries and training development director. I thank them for attending to discuss fisheries.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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.

I invite Ms McCarthy to make her opening statement.