Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Mac Lochlainn is substituting for Deputy Carthy and Deputy Pringle is substituting for Deputy Fitzmaurice. Before we begin, I remind all witnesses and those in the Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off. The purpose of today's meeting is to hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the sustainability impact assessment, SIA. All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. Two members of our secretariat are out this evening with Covid-19, so it most definitely has not gone away. I wish Christie and Rebecca the best and I hope they will be back to work soon.

Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that witnesses have full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue at the Chair's direction. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third person or entity. Witnesses who are giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and they may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses, outside the proceedings held by the committee, of any matter arising from the proceedings.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to utterances of members participating online in this committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in the context of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts. Members should be mindful of this when they are contributing.

On the sustainability impact assessment the committee will hear from the Minister who is accompanied by Dr. Cecil Beamish, assistant secretary; Ms Josephine Kelly, principal officer; Mr. Dominic Rihan, director of economic and strategic services, Bord Iascaigh Mhara; and Dr. Ciaran Kelly, director of fisheries ecosystems advisory services, Marine Institute. I call the Minister to make his opening statement.