Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today is the first on a couple of meetings on the challenges for the forestry sector. We will hear about Ash dieback and licensing. The meeting will be in two parts. In the first, we will hear from a representative of the Limerick Tipperary Woodland Owners Limited to discuss Ash dieback which is a very great issue in that part of the country. Foresters have suffered severe financial losses. Then representatives of the Irish Farmers Association will discuss the broader problems within the industry. The meeting will suspend for five minutes between both parts to allow the desks to be sanitised. I remind members there are sanitation products throughout the room which should be used when taking or vacating seats.

I am delighted to welcome representatives of the Limerick and Tipperary Woodlands Owners Limited, TWO, who travelled today to be before the committee. I welcome Mr. Simon White, vice chair of the TWO, and Mr. John O'Connell, its director. We have received its opening statement which has been circulated to members. To allow as much time for questions and answers, I ask that the opening remarks be brief, and they should not exceed five minutes.

I draw the attention of witnesses to 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 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.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.