Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members and those in the Public Gallery to make sure their mobile phones are completely switched off.

This meeting has been convened to consider a Supplementary Estimate relating to Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 22 November 2016 with an instruction to report back to the Dáil no later than 8 December 2016. On behalf of the committee I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed. I also welcome officials from the Department and thank them for the briefing material that has been circulated to the committee.

The format for today's meeting is as follows: the Minister will give a brief address to the committee after which members who indicate they want to speak will have the opportunity to make a brief response, if they wish. We can then consider the Supplementary Estimate. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind members that in accordance with Standing Orders, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimate only. I ask members if possible please to indicate the subhead they are referring to when they make a contribution. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.