Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They should be under parental control as well. I am sorry, but we are running out of time so we cannot continue with that. There will be no cows milked tonight if we keep going the way we are. I sincerely thank Mr. Bill Callanan and Dr. Robert Leonard for their assistance with this part of the discussion.

Our next tranche of the farm organisations includes the IFA, the ICMSA and the ICSA. We will take them one after the other. I ask all the witnesses to take their seats now because we will roll one into the other. Before hearing the oral evidence, I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses 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 on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are 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.

The first of the three farming organisations is the Irish Farmers' Association. The IFA is the largest farming organisation in Ireland, with nearly 90,000 members nationwide. The IFA is represented here today by its president, Mr. Eddie Downey, and Ms Maura Canning. I will give Mr. Downey five minutes, or as close as possible, to make his case. I do not want to be too strict on anyone, however. Ar aghaidh leat, Mr. Downey.