Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobiles phones. The purpose of today's meeting is to continue with the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the agriculture appeals (amendment) Bill 2024. The committee will hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who is accompanied by officials.

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 witnesses have a 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 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 are to give evidence from a location 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 a 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 at a committee meeting when that participation is from 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 the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. The officials accompanying the Minister are Ms Lynda O’Regan, director of agriculture appeals, and Mr. Pat Coman, principal officer at the agriculture appeals office. The Minister and his officials are very welcome to the meeting. I compliment the Minister on getting the proposed Bill this far. We hope we will be able to progress it as efficiently and quickly as possible. It has long been talked about and in gestation. I very much welcome that it has reached pre-legislative scrutiny. It is to be hoped that we can get it passed into legislation as quickly as possible.

I invite the Minister to make his opening statement, after which we will have a questions and answers session.