Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Una Heffernan, Vasa Limited, mink farmer; Mr. Michael Curran, Willow Herb Farm, mink farmer; and Mr. Gerard Reynolds, Gerard P. Reynolds Associates, contracted accountant, representing the three mink farmers. They are joining remotely from a witness room in Kildare House. The opening statement and briefing material have been circulated to members. Time is limited due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. The committee has agreed the opening statement will be taken as read, so we can use the full session for questions and answers. All opening statements are published on the Oireachtas website and are publicly available.

Deputy Carthy had to go to the convention centre and has sent his apologies. However, he is fully up to speed with the issues. He will be joining the meeting at a later stage but he will probably miss your presentation.

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 relating to 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. Participants in the committee meeting who are in locations outside 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 participation is covered by the absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

I now invite questions from the members. Deputy Collins was first to indicate.