Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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The first item is consideration of the motion referred to the joint committee by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann in relation to improving the level of the fund for the horse and greyhound industries for 2020-2021. Under the terms of the order of the referral to the committee, we must consider the matter and having done so report back to the Seanad no later than today, 24 November 2020, and to the Dáil no later than tomorrow, 25 November 2020.

I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, and his officials for the first session today. The Minister is accompanied by Dr. Kevin Smyth, assistant secretary general, and Ms Caroline Ball, principal officer State bodies division with responsibility for the horse and greyhound fund. The witnesses are welcome to today's meeting. I now ask the Minister to make his opening statement.