Chairman:

I welcome the ICMSA delegation, Mr. John Comer, president, and Mr. John Enright, general secretary, and thank them for coming before the committee today to discuss issues relating to the agriculture sector prior to budget 2017.

On the matter of privilege, in accordance with procedures I am required to read out the following statement before we commence. 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 in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 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 or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Comer to make his opening statement. The previous group had 12 minutes and I urge him to try to work to the same timeframe.