Good afternoon, everyone.
Welcome, Commissioner. We're pleased to see you again. We saw you a few days ago at the members' briefing.
I'd also like to welcome all the departmental representatives. As the list of witnesses is rather long, I won't read out all the names and titles of the witnesses or else we'd be here all day. So welcome to all of you.
Everyone here is aware of the acoustic feedback problems that have been experienced by the interpreters. I would therefore like to take a few moments to review the rules. You've heard them before, whether in this committee or another one, but I'd like to read the new guidelines for preventing acoustic feedback.
All earpieces have been replaced by a model that greatly reduces the probability of audio feedback. The new earpieces are black, whereas the former earpieces were grey. Please only use an approved black earpiece. By default, all unused earpieces will be unplugged at the start of a meeting. When you are not using your earpiece, please place it face down on the middle of the sticker for this purpose, which you will find on the table as indicated.
Please consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents. The room layout has been adjusted to increase the distance between microphones and to reduce the chance of feedback from an ambient earpiece.
Keep your earpiece either on your ear or on the table well away from the microphone to avoid any acoustic feedback that could cause injuries to the interpreters. All open microphones can be a source of acoustic feedback. When the microphone is on, don't touch the boom. Stay a reasonable distance from the microphone when you're speaking. Lastly, avoid increasing the volume level of your earpiece to maximum.
That's it for the instructions.
Without further ado, I am now giving the floor to the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development.