Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses from the Department of Agriculture and the Marine, the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, Meat Industry Ireland and Food Drink Ireland. The witnesses are participating remotely from Committee Room 2. From the Department of Agriculture and the Marine, we have Mr. Michael Sheahan, deputy chief veterinary officer, and Ms Maria Dunne, head of milk and meat policy division. From the Health and Safety Authority, we have Dr. Sharon McGuinness, CEO, who presented before us previously, and Mr. Mark Cullen, assistant CEO, who is responsible for the operational compliance and prevention division. From Meat Industry Ireland, we have Mr. Philip Carroll, chair, and Mr. Cormac Healy and Mr. Joe Ryan, who are both directors. From Food Drink Ireland, we have Mr. Paul Kelly, a director, and Ms Linda Stuart-Trainor, director of prepared consumer foods section.

I advise witnesses 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence regarding a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 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 in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I ask Mr. Sheahan to make his opening statement and to confine it to five minutes or less.