Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I remind all witnesses, members and those in the Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. The purpose of today's meeting is the continued examination of the EU nature restoration target, and resumed pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertiliser Regulation Bill 2022. The committee will hear from representatives of various agri-sector bodies. All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect 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 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. They 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.

The committee will hear from representatives from the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, Mr. Paul O'Brien, Ms Geraldine O'Sullivan and Ms Edel McAvoy; from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, ICMSA, Mr. Pat McCormack and Mr. John Enright; from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, Mr. Dermot Kelleher and Mr. Eddie Punch; from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association, INHFA, Mr. Vincent Roddy, Ms Sharon Cosgrove and Mr. Joe Condon; and from Macra na Feirme, Mr. John Keane, Mr. Mick Curran and Mr. Liam Hanrahan.

As we have five agricultural bodies at the committee meeting today we will take the opening statements as read. The session will last one and half hours and I want to give the committee members a chance to put their questions to the witnesses and the witnesses a chance to elaborate on the issues they feel are most relevant in this policy sector. I hope that is acceptable to the farming organisations.

Deputy Carthy was the first to indicate that he wants to put questions to the witnesses. As five organisations are present, I ask the witnesses to keep their answers as concise as possible so we can get through as much as possible in the one and a half hours.