Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion
2:00 pm
Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Mr. Paul Kelly, director, and Mr. Shane Dempsey, head of consumer foods, from Food and Drink Industry Ireland, FDII; Mr. Ciaran Fitzgerald, chairman, and Mr. Cormac Healy, director, from Meat Industry Ireland; and Mr. Michael Barry, director, from the Irish Dairy Industries Association. I thank them for coming before the joint committee to discuss Food Harvest 2020. I propose to call each in turn to make his presentation and ask members to put questions after each presentation.
Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given, and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. 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 by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.