Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before we begin, I remind members that in the context of current Covid-19 restrictions, only the Chair and staff are present in the committee room. All members must join remotely from elsewhere within the parliamentary precincts. The secretariat can issue invitations during the meeting on Microsoft Teams. Members may not participate in the meeting from outside of the parliamentary precincts. I ask that they mute their microphones when they are not making a contribution and that they use the raise-hand function to indicate. Please note that messages sent to the meeting chat are visible to all participants. Speaking slots will be prioritised for members of the committee.

Today's meeting is in two sessions. The agenda is organic farming. The first session is from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and is an engagement with representatives from Teagasc and Bord Bia. The second session, from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. is an engagement with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I welcome to the meeting Professor Gerry Boyle, director, and Dr. Mary Ryan, specialist researcher in the agricultural economics and farm survey department of Teagasc and Mr. Padraig Brennan, director of meat, food and beverages; Ms Gillian Willis, small business development manager, and Mr. Lorcan Bourke, senior manager of horticulture at Bord Bia. The committee has received the witnesses’ opening statements which have already been circulated to members. We are limited in our time due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. The committee has therefore agreed that the opening statements will be taken as read in order that we can use the full session for questions and answers. All opening statements are published on the Oireachtas website and are publicly available.

Before we begin, I will read the notice on parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence that they are to give to the committee. However, if directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect 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. Participants who join the committee meeting from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating within the parliamentary precincts does not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether or the extent to which their participation is covered by the absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

I now invite questions from members to witnesses. I will start with Senator Daly.