Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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At the committee's private meeting on 2 November, it was agreed that EU legislative proposals, COM (2022) 134, COM (2022) 242, COM (2022) 296 and COM (2022) 305, warranted further scrutiny. As part of the scrutiny, representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been invited to today's committee meeting to brief us on these proposals.

I will again read the note on privilege before we start. Witnesses who are to give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. That means they have a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at the 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 to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts does. 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.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Paul Savage, assistant secretary; Ms Angela Robinson, head of the food industry development division; Ms Sharon Murphy, principal officer; Ms Anne Marie Dillon, senior inspector, agriculture pesticide registration; and Mr. Charlie Brophy, assistant principal, economics and planning division. From Teagasc, I welcome Mr. Brian Moran, agricultural economics and farm surveys department.

I invite Mr. Savage to make his opening remarks.