Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are joined by representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to examine Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Chapter 7 of the Comptroller and Auditor General report 2015 on EU refunds and levies in the agriculture sector.

From the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, we are joined by Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll, Secretary General, and Ms Kay Ryan, Mr. Brendan Gleeson, Mr. Paul Dillon, Mr. Herbert McMahon, Dr. Kevin Smyth, Mr. Martin Crowley and Ms Catherine Healy. From the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we are joined by Mr. Terry Walsh.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off all mobile phones. I wish to advise the witnesses that, 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of that evidence. They are directed that only evidence concerning the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and 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, her or it identifiable. Members of the committee are reminded of the provisions of Standing Order 186 to the effect that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such a policy. Finally, members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.