Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputies Cathal Crowe and Seán Canney and Senator Aisling Dolan have indicated they want to attend the meeting. Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones.

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 a witness has full defence against any defamation action about 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.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made about an identifiable third person or entity. Witnesses who are to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to publication by the witnesses outside the proceedings held by the committee of any matters 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 a 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 the committee meeting where their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. Members may not participate online in the public meeting from outside the parliamentary precincts. Any attempt to do so will result in the member having his or her online access removed.

The purpose of today's meeting is to examine the recent reclassification of beef indexes. The committee will hear from witnesses from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, and Teagasc. The witnesses from ICBF are Mr. Michael Doran, chairman, and Mr. Sean Coughlan, chief executive. The witness from Teagasc is Dr. Paul Crosson, beef enterprise leader. I welcome the gentlemen to today's meeting. I acknowledge that they have come in at short notice, which is appreciated. The changes to the indexes have brought much media comment. There is much worry and anxiety. It is important that we have this meeting so we can try to get to the root of the reasons for these changes.

I will allow the witnesses five minutes to read an opening statement and then we will proceed to a question-and-answer session, where I will give ten minutes to each member in the first round and we will come back for a second round of questions if required.