Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I remind members, visitors and those in the gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting, as they cause interference with the broadcasting equipment, even when left in silent mode. We now move on to entrepreneurship among women, women in the tech industry, skills needs and balanced regional development. I welcome to the meeting Ms Tara McCarthy, director of the consumer foods division at Bord Bia, Ms Eileen Bentley, entrepreneurship manager at Bord Bia, and Ms Colette Twomey, director of the Clonakilty Food Company. Representing Kernel Capital, the committee welcomes partner Ms Orla Rimmington, partner Ms Jayne Brady and financial director and partner Ms Denise Sidhu.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 any 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind our guests that their presentations should be no more than ten minutes. Members have been provided with the presentations already submitted and they will be taken into account when the committee is making its considerations on the report.

I invite Tara McCarthy from Bord Bia to make her presentation.