Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones.

The purpose of the first session is to undertake an examination of the horse and greyhound racing fund regulations 2022. The second session will be further scrutiny of EU legislative proposals COM (2022) 134, COM (2022) 242, COM (2022) 296 and COM (2022) 305. In the first session, the committee will hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and his officials. In the second session, we will hear from Mr. Paul Savage, assistant secretary at the Department, and other officials. All present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility in order to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

I bring to the attention of witnesses who are to give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts that they 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 and 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 either a 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 the utterances of members participating in this committee meeting online when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in respect of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts. Members should be mindful of this when contributing.

In this first session on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022, the committee will hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Gordon Conroy, assistant secretary, Ms Caroline Ball, principal officer, and Ms Louise McAlavey, assistant principal. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.