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

I welcome Dr. Cecil Beamish, assistant secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. John Quinlan, principal officer, Mr. Batt Whelton, assistant principal officer, and Mr. Kevin Hodnett, assistant principal officer.

I draw attention to the fact that 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.

I invite Dr. Beamish to make his opening statement.