Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I remind members and witnesses that mobile phones should be switched off as they interfere with the recording equipment. Apologies have been received from Deputy Jack Chambers. To facilitate our witnesses, we will deal with private business at the end of today's meeting. The purpose of this engagement is to conclude our consideration of the issues of community policing and rural crime, with the focus today more on the latter aspect.

We are joined first by the Irish Farmers Association representatives as, I understand, they have to leave us a little early. We will then meet representatives from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association. The IFA delegation is Mr. Richard Kennedy, deputy president, and Mr. Barry Carey, crime prevention officer. They are very welcome. We will be joined shortly, we hope, by the IFA president, Mr. Joe Healy, who is caught up in traffic. I thank the IFA for facilitating our request. I will ask the IFA representatives to make an opening statement before opening it up to members to comment or to put questions, which is the normal procedure.

Before commencing, I must draw the attention of witnesses to the situation regarding privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of 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 persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Kennedy to make his opening statement.