I welcome the following: Mr. Tom Carroll, former Secretary General of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources; and from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ms Sarah White, deputy secretary general; Mr. Joe Ryan, principal officer; Mr. James Moloney, assistant principal; Mr. Paul Dolan, assistant principal; Mr. Dermot Donegan, higher executive officer; and Ms Josephine Kelly, principal officer. I thank the witnesses for appearing before us. They will be aware that the joint committee is engaged in a series of meetings on the Ombudsman's special report on the lost at sea scheme. On conclusion of these meetings, the joint committee will make its deliberations and report back to the Houses of the Oireachtas. I understand Mr. Carroll wishes to make an opening statement. I will then call each spokesperson as well as one member from the Government side, each of whom will be allowed to put questions for 12 minutes. Other members who indicate may then speak and will be allowed ten minutes.
Before I call Mr. Carroll to make his presentation, I draw witnesses' attention to the fact that members of the committee enjoy absolute privilege but the same privilege does not apply to witnesses appearing before the committee. 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 House, or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of evidence they give before the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter but continue to do so, they will be entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and the delegates are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a person in either House, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now invite Mr. Carroll to make his opening remarks.