Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael Collins. I remind members and witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones.

The purpose of today's meeting is to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the agriculture appeals (amendment) Bill 2024. The committee will hear from representatives of the agricultural sector.

Witnesses giving evidence within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that they have a full defence in any defamation action in respect of anything they say at the meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue on 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 want to give evidence from locations outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts. They may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses, outside of the proceedings held by the committee, of any matters 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 either a person outside the House 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 at a committee meeting when that participation is within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurance on participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when contributing.

The committee will hear from representatives of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, INHFA. In attendance are: Mr. Francie Gorman, president, Mr. John Curran rural development chair, and Mr. Shane Whelan rural development policy executive, from the IFA; Mr. Dennis Drennan, president, Mr. John Enright, general secretary, and Mr. Paul Smyth, executive secretary of the dairy committee, from the ICMSA, all of whom are attending remotely; Mr. Sean McNamara, president, Mr. Eddie Punch, general secretary, and Mr. Hugh Farrell, animal health and welfare chair, from the ICSA; and Mr. Richard Roddy, president, Mr. John Joe Fitzgerald, vice president, and Mr. Connie Walsh, operations manager, from the INHFA. I welcome all the witnesses. I note that this is Mr. McNamara's first time to appear before the committee here as president of his organisation. I wish him the best of luck for his tenure.

Copies of the opening statements have been circulated to members. The general scheme has been in the oven for a good while. It is good to see it reaching to this point . We very much welcome the opportunity to listen to the farming organisations input on the Bill. As we have four organisations making contributions, I will allocate five minutes to each for their opening statements. The time limits will be enforced. I ask the Mr. Gorman to go first on behalf of the IFA. We will then hear from the ICMSA, the ICSA and the INHFA.