Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Aidan Cotter, chief executive officer, and Mr. Padraig Brennan, senior business analyst, with Bord Bia to discuss Food Harvest 2020.

I bring to the delegates' attention the fact that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Will Mr. Cotter make his opening statement?