Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome to the meeting the representatives from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, Mr. T.J. Flanagan, CEO, Mr. John O'Gorman, chairman of the dairy committee, and Mr. Ray Doyle of the livestock executive, who join us remotely. The witnesses are very welcome to the meeting.

I will give some context to our discussion today. The committee held a meeting with stakeholder groups in November 2020 on the topic of the regulation of veterinary medicines. ICOS was not included at that time. In organising this follow-up meeting the committee agreed to give ICOS an opportunity to present its view on the matter. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions our time is limited. There will not be enough time for a full question and answer session. The ICOS briefing will inform the committee's engagement with the Department officials in the next session today.

Before we begin, I must draw attention to the fact that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Participants at the committee meeting from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating 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 now ask the ICOS representatives to brief the committee on the matter. I apologise for the time restrictions. Unfortunately, Covid is our governing body in that regard. I ask ICOS to give its view on the proposed change in legislation.