Chairman:

I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, and his officials here today and apologise to them for the delay. We had another issue to deal with before they arrived. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. On the issue of privilege, members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such way as to make him or her identifiable.

Members have been circulated with the Department's briefing note and the committee secretariat's briefing note. Following the Minister's opening statement giving a general overview of the Vote, we will proceed to a consideration of the Vote. Its consideration is to be programme by programme. I propose to call members in the order in which they indicate on each programme. When members' questions on programme A have been answered by the Minister, we will move on to the next programme and so on. When programmes A, B and C have been considered, the committee may consider the appropriations-in-aid information presented and then administrative expenditure generally, with subheads 1 and 2 in each programme to be considered together.

I also propose that we consider all the budgetary allocations across the programme subheads together. This will allow members who have an interest in a particular programme to schedule their time and ensure the committee gives consideration to all programmes. The emphasis of questions should be on how effectively the financial resources are being managed and the performance achieved relevant to that programme. The programmes and subheads are listed at the back of the brief that has been circulated. When asking questions or raising issues, members should indicate the subhead to which the questions relate or the page number of the departmental secretariat briefing to which they are referring.

I call the Minister to make his opening statement.