Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I have received apologies from Deputy Paul Murphy. The purpose of the meeting today is to discuss the finalisation of the draft national energy and climate action plan, NECP, and national long-term strategy, NLTS. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following stakeholders to the meeting: Mr. Oisín Coghlan of the Environmental Pillar, Ms Sadhbh O'Neill of Friends of the Earth and Dr. Ciara Brennan of Environmental Justice Network Ireland, EJNI, who are attending in person in Leinster House. Joining us remotely are Ms Catherine Devitt of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and Dr. Alison Hough and Dr. Orla Kelleher of Environmental Justice Network Ireland. Thank you all for coming in this morning and thank you for reaching out and proposing that we have this session. As members were very supportive of us having this session, thank you for making the suggestion to us.

Before we begin, I will read the note on privilege to remind our guests of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a ways to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. If a witness's statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, I will direct the witness to discontinue his or her remarks and it is imperative that he or she complies with any such direction. Members of the committee are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practices to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the houses or an official either by name or in such a way to make him or her identifiable. I remind members they are only allowed to participate in the meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex. I ask that those members joining us online, prior to making their contribution to the meeting, confirm that they are indeed on the grounds of Leinster House. I call Mr. Coghlan to make his opening statement or rather, he is beginning the statement and is sharing it with the other guests.