Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received.

Members now have the option of being physically present in the committee room or joining the meeting via Microsoft Teams. Members may not participate in the meeting from outside the parliamentary precincts. It is important to know, however, that in order to participate in the meeting, committee members must be physically present in the committee room.

Members have to turn off their mobile phones.

I ask members to note that the meeting will suspend from 6.50 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. to allow them to attend the unveiling by the Ceann Comhairle of a bust of John Hume in the coffee dock at 7 o'clock.

This meeting has been convened to consider Committee Stage of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023. I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, and his officials, Ms Louise Byrne, deputy chief inspector, Dr. June Fanning, deputy chief veterinary officer, Dr. Sheila Nolan, principal officer, Mr. Conor O'Mahony, principal officer, Mr. Ted Massey, senior inspector, and Ms Melanie Hall, higher executive officer.

We now proceed to consideration of the Bill. Minister, would you like to make your opening statement?