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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Thomas Pringle. I ask those present to ensure that all mobile phones are turned off. The meeting has been convened to consider a Supplementary Estimate for Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 21 November 2017 with an instruction to report back to the Dáil no later than 6 December 2017. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed. I also welcome his departmental officials and thank them for circulating briefing papers beforehand. The Minister will make a brief address to the committee after which members who indicate they wish to speak will have an opportunity to make a brief response. 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 item constituting the Supplementary Estimate only.

I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.