Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senators Paul Daly and Boylan and Deputy Martin Browne. Senator Daly is debating the passage of a Bill in the Seanad that he has sponsored and hopes to join us later.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones and request they ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, they are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient for mobile phones just to be put on silent mode because this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the eradication of bovine tuberculosis, TB. I welcome the representatives from Macra na Feirme, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and thank them for coming before the committee.

With effect from 25 January 2022, members and witnesses have the option of attending committee meetings in the relevant committee room rather than participating via MS Teams. Masks should continue to be worn by those present when not addressing the committee. Room capacity will continue to be reduced in the short term until all microphones and seating can be returned.

Witnesses giving evidence within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means a witness has a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue at the Chairman's direction. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chairman in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as far as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third party or entity. Witnesses who are to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses outside the proceedings held by the committee of any matter arising from the proceedings.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not comment on, criticise nor make charges against a person outside the House or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in a committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurance in respect of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when they contribute.

I welcome from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, Mr. Eddie Punch, general secretary, and Mr. Hugh Farrell, chair of animal health and welfare; from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Mr. Lorcan McCabe, deputy president, and Mr. Paul Smyth, executive secretary of the dairy committee; from the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. T.J. Maher, chair of animal health, and Mr. Tomás Bourke, senior policy executive; and from Macra na Feirme, Mr. John Keane, president, Ms Gillian Richardson, acting head of policy, and Mr. Shane Fitzgerald, chair of the agricultural affairs committee, who will substitute for Mr. Keane when he leaves early.

I invite Mr. Keane, who has to attend another meeting shortly, to make his opening statement.