Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received. Deputy Wynne has indicated that she will attend today's meeting. Members have the option of being physically present in the committee room or may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams from their Leinster House offices. Members may not participate in the meeting from outside the Leinster House parliamentary precincts. However, it is important to note that to participate in a division, members must be physically present in the committee room. If joining on Microsoft Teams, members are asked to mute their microphones when not contributing and use the raise hand function to indicate.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The meeting has been convened to consider the Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2024, Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and Marine, which was referred to the committee by the Dáil on 13 December 2023. I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and his officials to the meeting today. The Minister is accompanied by Mr. Gordon Conroy, assistant secretary, finance and central procurement; Ms Rebecca Chapman, principal officer, finance division; Mr. Paul McNally, assistant principal officer, finance division; and Mr William Farrell, administrative officer. They are very welcome to this evening's meeting. I now call on the Minister to make his opening statement.