Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We shall resume. We are joined in this session by representatives from the Irish Farmers Association: Mr. Tim Cullinan, president; Ms Geraldine O'Sullivan, senior policy executive; and from outside Leinster House via remote connection are Mr. Vincent Nally, chairman of the forestry committee; Mr. Charlie Doherty, vice-chairman, forestry committee; and Mr. Damian McDonald, director general.

Before we begin I will give a formal notice on parliamentary privilege.This is the first occasion during which witnesses will be contributing remotely into our meeting. This is also happening in other committees. For those members who have not done this previously I ask that they pause before asking questions of the witnesses who are contributing remotely because there could be a time lag with the sound. Most important is the evidence of the witnesses and the caveat in relation to that evidence.

Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity or an official by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they must respect that direction. Participants in a committee meeting from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating from within the parliamentary precincts do not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether, or the extent to which, their participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

I invite the IFA president to make his opening statement. In view of time constraints, I ask that this is kept as brief as possible, which would allow us the time to maximise the time for debate and questions and answers.