Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will now discuss Ireland's nitrates action programme. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, remains with us. I welcome Mr. Jack Nolan, senior inspector in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's nitrates, biodiversity and engineering division. I took a look at the Minister's opening statement and do not believe he will overrun this time.

Before we begin, I must read an important notice on parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter but continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected to 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 any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.