Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, visitors and those in the Visitors Gallery to please ensure their mobile telephones are switched off or on airplane mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode.

We now come to the discussion of the impact and opportunities of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. I welcome Ms Darina Allen of Slow Food Ireland, Mr. Eoin Bradley of the Irish Cancer Society, Dr. Lorna Gold of Trócaire and Mr. Barry Finnegan of ATTAC Ireland to the meeting.

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. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind our guests that their presentations should be no more than five minutes in duration. The presentations submitted by today's attendees have been circulated to members. I invite Ms Darina Allen to make her presentation.