Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to please make sure their mobile telephones are completely turned off. We are here today to discuss climate change and issues specific to the agriculture, food and marine sectors. I welcome from the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, Mr. Joe Healy, president, and Mr. Thomas Cooney, environment chairman, and from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, Mr. Pat McCormack, president, and Mr. John Enright, general secretary. I wish Mr. McCormack every success in his new role, as this is his first visit to the committee in this role. I also welcome from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, Mr. Martin Keane, president and Mr. Eamonn Farrell, agrifood policy executive, and from Macra na Feirme, Mr. Thomas Duffy, vice chairman, and Ms Jennifer Keegan, agricultural policy adviser. I thank them for coming before the committee today to discuss the specific issues concerning climate change and its impact on agriculture, food and the marine sectors.

As you are aware this is a very topical issue at present and the committee considered it as a priority of our work programme for this particular year. I also thank you for your written submissions provided today. Before we begin, I wish to raise the issue of privilege. I bring to your attention that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and 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 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 members 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. The procedure for today is that I will ask different groups for their presentations and then we will take questions from different members. I begin by asking Mr. Healy for his opening statement, please.