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

We have received apologies from Senators Craughwell and Leyden. I remind members to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off.

I acknowledge and welcome His Excellency, Mr. Leonard Sacco, and his officials from the Embassy of Malta to the Public Gallery. We are delighted to have an engagement today with the president of the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. Joe Healy, and his colleagues. I welcome them to the meeting. We have had good engagements with representatives from the ICMSA and Macra na Feirme. We are delighted to be able to follow up with today's engagement. As was said that day, the farming community is a very important voice in the process of defining what the future of the EU should look like. We are very appreciative of Mr. Healy's input today.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact 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. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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, her or it identifiable.

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