Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir anseo inniu. Gabhaim míle buíochas leo as teacht isteach. I welcome, from the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. Padraic Joyce, Mr. Pat Dunne and Mr. Gerry Gunning, from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, Mr. Colm O'Donnell, Mr. Henry O'Donnell and Mr. Joe Condon, and from the Irish Wildlife Trust, Mr. Pádraic Fogarty. We also invited BirdWatch Ireland and Inland Waterways Ireland to the meeting but they were unable to attend today. However, they will be able to attend our next meeting next week.

Before I ask them to address the meeting, I draw to the witnesses' attention 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 do so, 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise witnesses that their opening statements and any other documents they have submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after this meeting. 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

To commence the discussion, I ask the representatives of the Irish Farmers Association to make their presentation.