Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests, Mr. Patrick Kent, president, and Mr. Eddie Punch, general secretary, from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and Mr. Brendan Joyce, director of policy, Mr. Colm O'Donnell, director of policy, and Mr. Joe Condon, assistant chairman, from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, and thank them for coming before us. I am aware that they were present in the Visitors' Gallery during the previous session but I am afraid I must repeat the rules relating to privilege. In that context, I must inform the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members have already been reminded of their responsibilities in this regard.

I invite Mr. Joyce to make his opening statement.