Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS Mr. Michael Spellman, vice president, and Mr. Ray Doyle, livestock and environmental services executive. I thank them for coming before the joint committee to brief us on electronic identification, EID, tagging and it impact on many farmers around the country.

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 it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 or an 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. I invite Mr. Spellman to make his opening statement.