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

From Dairy Industry Ireland I welcome to this part of the meeting Mr. Conor Mulvihill, director, and Dr. Miriam Ryan, executive with responsibility for specialised nutrition and regulatory affairs. From the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association I welcome Ms Gillian Westbrook, CEO, and Mr. John McHugh, dairy farmer. From Teagasc, I welcome Professor Frank O'Mara, director of research, and Dr. Trevor Donnellan, research officer. From the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association I welcome Mr. Patrick Kent, national president, and Ms Nessa Fitzgibbon, press and communications officer. I thank the delegates for coming before the committee to discuss specific issues concerning climate change and its impact on agriculture and the food sector. I also thank them for their written submissions which I circulated to members earlier. To move things on, I ask them to summarise their opening statements as much as possible.

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.

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.

I ask Mr. Mulvihill to make his opening statement.