Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Mac Lochlainn is substituting for Deputy Kerrane for the first session of the meeting. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones.

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, they are expected not to abuse that 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 giving 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 witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts. They may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to 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 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 utterances of members participating online in the committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. Members may not participate online in a public meeting from outside the parliamentary precincts and any attempt to do so will result in the member having his or her online access removed.

The purpose of the first session is to discuss a pre-Agriculture and Fisheries Council engagement. In the first session of the committee, we will hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. The Minister is accompanied by the following officials from his Department: Ms Sinéad McSherry, assistant secretary general, and Ms Anna O'Sullivan, principal officer. He is also accompanied by Mr. Dominic Rihan, director of economic and strategic services at Bord Iascaigh Mhara, and Mr. Ciaran Kelly, director of fisheries ecosystems advisory services at the Marine Institute. They are all very welcome to the meeting.

The Minister's opening statement has been circulated to members. He would normally have around five minutes to read it but I think it would be beneficial to members if he goes through the full statement.