Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Sean Coughlan, chief executive officer, and Dr. Andrew Cromie, technical director of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation and I thank them for attending the committee to discuss with members some of the technical aspects of the beef data and genomics programme from a breeding perspective. I thank them for their indulgence with the delay in starting the meeting in order to accommodate another event which was arranged subsequent to our established arrangements.

I advise the witnesses 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 this committee. 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 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or 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 ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Coughlan to make his opening statement.