Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022. We have two organisations before us, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, and Teagasc.

Covid-19 is unfortunately still with us and all of those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting the disease.

Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that witnesses have 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 Chair's direction. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third person or entity. Witnesses who are giving 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 witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts. 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 that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to utterances of members participating online in this committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in the context of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts. Members should be mindful of this when they are contributing.

We will move to the pre-legislative scrutiny of the heads of the Bill before us. I ask the witnesses from ICOS to make their presentation.