Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I welcome everyone. The purpose of today's meeting is to resume an examination of agricultural schemes in respect of the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and compensation. The committee will hear from officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 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.

I bring to the attention of witnesses that giving evidence within the parliamentary precincts is protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to a committee. This means that witnesses have a full defence in any defamation action arising from anything said in 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 directions of the Chair in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse comments should be made against an identifiable third person or entity. Witnesses who choose to give evidence from locations 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 matters arising from the proceedings. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members 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 online in committee meetings when their participation is within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurance in respect of participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when contributing.

The agenda of this meeting is the resumption of discussion on the agricultural schemes. The officials attending today's meeting to deal with the schemes are Dr. Mary Carey, principal officer, basic payment and rural development scheme; Jack Nolan, head of organics division; Fran Morrin, principal officer, CAP entitlements and financial controls; Peter Harte, assistant principal officer direct payments section; Josephine Brennan, principal officer agri-environment and on-farm investment; and Pat Morrison, agricultural inspector, agri-environment and structures. On bovine eradication and compensation we have Dr. June Fanning, deputy chief veterinary officer; Dr. Damien Barrett, senior superintending veterinary inspector; and Conor O'Mahony, principal officer, ERAD. I call now upon Dr. Carey to read her opening statement to be followed by Mr. O'Mahony. On conclusion of the opening statements we will have a questions and answers session.

For the information of the meeting, when questions are put by the committee members, they will cover all of the topics here today and the members can question different witnesses in attendance, be it on the eradication of tuberculosis, TB, or on the schemes themselves.