Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witness and people in the Visitors Gallery to switch off their mobile telephones. I welcome from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Paul Dillon, assistant secretary, Dr. Kevin Smyth, assistant secretary, Dr. Ronan O'Flaherty, principal officer, Mr. Fintan O'Brien, principal officer, and Mr. Frank Macken, agricultural inspector. I thank them for appearing before the committee to brief it on the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and its current issues and on members' concerns around COM (2014) 180 in regard to organic production and labelling of organic products.

Before we begin, on the matter of privilege, I bring to witnesses' attention that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

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.

On the first item, Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and commonages, I call Mr. Dillon.