Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. Their evidence forms an important component of our work. I hope they did not think I was rushing them, but we want to bring in the final group, comprising two organisations with commercial development mandates and a medical doctor. The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, is an umbrella organisation which serves and promotes commercial co-operative businesses and enterprise. It was founded in 1894 and its roots are in the agricultural co-operative movement. Today it is represented by Mr. T.J. Flanagan, its dairy policy executive. The Professional Agricultural Contractors of Ireland, PAC, represents the interests of Irish agricultural contractors. It is represented on the Health and Safety Authority's farm safety partnership advisory committee. The organisation is represented by Mr. Tom Murphy and Mr. Dessie Cunningham, a former honorary chairman. Dr. Oladele Olajide Onada has been practising general medicine as an employee of the Health Service Executive since 2001. His submission to the committee draws particular attention to the incidence of occupational lung disease among Irish farmers. They are all very welcome. We will begin with ICOS, and I invite Mr. Flanagan to make his opening statement, for which he has approximately five minutes.