Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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Apologies have been received from Deputy Kehoe.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. The purpose of today's meeting is to continue the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the veterinary medicinal products, medicated feed and fertilisers regulation Bill 2022. The committee will hear from the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon, and officials from his Department.

All of those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that witnesses have a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue at the Chair's direction. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third person or entity. Witnesses who are giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, and they may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses, outside the proceedings held by the committee, of any matter arising from the proceedings.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to utterances of members participating online in this committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in the context of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts. Members should be mindful of this when they are contributing.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Heydon, and the following officials from his Department: Dr. June Fanning, deputy chief veterinary officer; Dr. Paul Corkery, senior superintending veterinary inspector; Mr. Ted Massey, senior inspector; Ms Louise Byrne, deputy chief inspector; Mr. Conor O'Mahony, principal officer; Dr. Sheila Nolan, principal officer; and Mr. Peter Collins, assistant principal officer.

I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement. We might take the meeting in two halves, dealing with medicinal products first and fertiliser second, if that is acceptable to him.