Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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People should be aware that there are no audio files of Teams meetings. However, there is no guarantee for members that the meeting will not be recorded by somebody else in error. Members participating from outside Leinster House are advised that they cannot participate when they are offline.

Before we begin, I bring everyone's attention to the notice on privilege. Witnesses giving evidence within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to a committee. This means that they have a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue at the Chair's direction. They should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard.

Witnesses 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 are to give evidence from a location outside of 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.

The purpose of the meeting is to examine the welfare and treatment of horses and their traceability. I welcome Mr. Michael Sheahan, deputy chief veterinary officer, One Health, One Welfare; Ms Frances MacAodhain, principal officer, animal identification and movement division; Dr. Avril Hobson, senior superintending veterinary inspector; veterinary and public health policy division; and Dr. James Choiseul, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; Ms Suzanne Eade, chief executive officer; Mr. John Osborne, director of equine welfare and bloodstock; and Mr. Jason Morris, director of strategy, Horse Racing Ireland, HRI; and Mr. Denis Duggan and Dr. Sonja Egan, head of breeding, innovation and development, Horse Sport Ireland.

I will allow witnesses from the three organisations five minutes to read their opening statements and then we will proceed to questions and answers. We will start with the Department, followed by Horse Racing Ireland and then Horse Sport Ireland.