Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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 a witness has 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 discretion. 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 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 a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses outside of the proceedings of the meeting 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 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 the committee meeting where 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 their online access removed. We do not have anyone online today. Everyone is in the room.

The agenda for our first session today relates to social farming. The committee will hear from several representative groups. I welcome from Social Farming Ireland, Mr. Brian Smyth, national project manager, Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG; Ms. Helen Doherty, Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG; Mr. Matthew McGreehan, social farmer, Co. Louth; and from Kerry Social Farming, Mr. Joseph McCrohan, rural development and social farming manager, South Kerry Development Partnership; Mr. Eamon Horgan, chair of Kerry Social Farming working group and host farmer; and Mr. Brendan O'Sullivan, social farming participant. The opening statements have been circulated to the members, who will have had the opportunity to read them. I will allow a short two-minute introduction of each of those opening statements before we go on to a question and answer session with the members.

We will start with Social Farming Ireland. I call on Mr. Brian Smyth.