Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Mr. John Comer and Mr. John Enright and from Macra na Feirme Mr. James, Healy, Mr. Denis Duggan and Mr. Derry Dillon. Ireland's membership of the European Union has had an enormous impact on agriculture and rural communities through the common standards applied, access to the European market, CAP funding, structural and development funds, rural development programmes such as the Leader programme and so on. What the future of the European Union will look like is, therefore, of fundamental importance to farming communities.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on or criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

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 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.

We will first hear the opening statements which will be followed by questions. I ask Mr. Comer to make his presentation first.