Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I remind members and witnesses to ensure that their mobile phones are turned off. We have witnesses from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Meat Industry Ireland. I welcome Mr. Martin Blake, chief veterinary officer, Ms Paula Barry Walsh, deputy chief veterinary officer, Mr. Martin Farrell, principal officer and Ms Maria Dunne, principal officer from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I welcome the representatives from Meat Industry Ireland, Mr. Philip Carroll, Chairman and Mr. Cormac Healy, senior director.

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the meeting today to discuss the electronic identification of sheep. We are aware that new regulations requiring that all sheep be electronically tagged are due to come into effect in October. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the changes, the background and the concerns raised by farmers and the measures in place to support the changeover to an entirely electronic process.

Before I begin I want to bring to the attention of those present the matter of privilege. 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 relation to 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 nor make charges against any person or entities by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. 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 a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I understand Mr. Blake will make the initial statement.