Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives from the IFA: Mr. Tim Cullinan, president, and Mr. Bryan Barry, assistant director. I also welcome the representatives from the Irish Natura And Hill Farmers Association, INHFA, who are joining us remotely: Mr. Vincent Roddy, director of organisation, and Mr. Henry O'Donnell, Donegal national council representative. We have received the witnesses' written submissions. They have been circulated among members. With the Covid restrictions, we are very tight on time. Each meeting must conclude within two hours so we are going to take the opening statements as read.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this 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 qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings should be given. They should respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against a person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise witnesses giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts that the constitutional protection afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before committees may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given as to whether, or the extent to which, the evidence given is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

The current position on Brexit is such that it is really starting to send shivers up our spines. This morning, I learned that €1.6 billion in tariffs is the possible cost of a no-deal Brexit to this country. Ninety per cent of this will be related to the agri-food industry. It really brings into focus the huge challenge we could face in the context of no deal, but even in the context of a deal there will be many problems regarding trade, including our ability to trade with the UK.

I shall open the discussion to the floor. Members may ask questions to representatives of both organisations.