Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that 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 the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 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 witnesses that any submission or opening statement they have made to the committee will be published on the committee web page after this meeting.

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.

I remind members to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system.

The purpose of today's meeting is further scrutiny of EU legislative proposal COM (2018) 340, which is a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Briefing material on this proposal has been circulated to members. The proposal is listed under Schedule A. I welcome the witnesses to the meeting to discuss the proposal with our joint committee. We are joined by Mr. Matthew Collins, assistant secretary, and Mr. Kevin O'Donoghue, principal officer, from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I ask Mr. Collins to give us a brief on the proposal.