Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are continuing our series of meetings with the North-South Implementation Bodies, established under the Good Friday Agreement. We will hear from safefood about its work and the importance of ensuring food safety, food hygiene and healthy eating across the island of Ireland.

I welcome the witnesses from safefood Ireland, Mr. Ray Dolan, chief executive officer, Mr. Paul Gibbons, vice chair, Ms Patricia Fitzgerald, director of corporate operations, and Dr. Gary A. Kearney, director of food science.

I remind members and visitors in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones, tablets and so on are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee even on silent mode.

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 by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

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.

I invite Mr. Ray Dolan to make his opening statement.