Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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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 a committee. This means a witness has a 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 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 and 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 they 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 a 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 today is an examination of the impact of rising veterinary costs on dog ownership, surrenders and abandoning. In the first session, the committee will hear from officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Rural and Community Development and Veterinary Ireland. The witnesses from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are Dr. Eoin Ryan, head of the animal welfare division, and Dr. Robert Doyle, assistant secretary.

The witnesses from the Department of Rural and Community Development are Ms Deirdre Kelly, principal officer; Ms Catherine Burns, assistant principal; and Ms Michelle Casserly, higher executive officer. The witnesses from Veterinary Ireland are Mr. Finbar Murphy, chief executive; Mr. Bill Cashman, Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society, VICAS, national committee; Mr. Paul McDermott, immediate past president; and Mr. Conall Calleary, chair of the local authority employees interest group. They are all very welcome to the meeting. Their opening statements have been circulated to members. I will allow five minutes for the opening statements and then we will proceed with the question and answer session. We will begin with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I invite Mr. Eoin Ryan to make his opening statement.