Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind witnesses and members, and visitors in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. The purpose of today's meeting is to undertake an examination of various schemes: the basic payment scheme, BPS; the organic farming scheme; the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES; the beef genomics scheme; the beef environmental efficiency programme, BEEP; and the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS-III. The committee will hear from representatives from various agricultural bodies and from Teagasc.

All of those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

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 by the Chair to cease giving evidence on an issue. 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 and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this 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 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 the committee meeting when they are participating within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurance in relation to participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts. Members should be mindful of this when making a contribution.

The committee will hear from representatives of the IFA, Mr. Brian Rushe, deputy president, Mr. Michael Biggins, rural development chairman and Ms Rachel Maloney, policy executive; from the INHFA, Mr. Vincent Roddy, president, Mr. Joe Condon and Mr. Colm O'Donnell who are all joining virtually; from Macra na Feirme, Mr. John Keane, president, Dr. Liam Hanrahan, national agricultural affairs chairperson and Mr. Mick Curran, CEO; from the ICMSA, Mr. Pat McCormack, president, Mr. John Enright, general secretary and Ms Alisha Ryan, policy adviser and secretary to the farming and rural affairs livestock committee; and, from the ICSA, Mr. Dermot Kelleher, president and Mr. Eddie Punch, general secretary.

I am not going to ask everyone to read their opening statements but I will give each organisation three minutes to make opening comments and then we will open to questions from the floor. I will start with Mr. McCormack.