Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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No apologies have been received. I will go through the privilege notice. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected to not abuse this privilege, and it is my duty as Chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

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 a 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 members having their online access removed.

Everyone is very welcome this afternoon. The agenda for today's meeting is the Common Agricultural Policy post 2027 which is resumed. The committee will hear from several representative groups: from the Irish Beef and Lamb Association, we are joined by Mr. Eoin Donnelly, runaí; from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association we are joined by Mr. Sean McNamara, president and Mr. Hugh Farrell, general secretary; from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association we are joined by Mr. Colm O'Donnell, CAP committee chair, and Mr. Tommy Slevin, national council representative; from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, we are joined by its president, Mr. Edward Carr, and Mr. Darragh Walshe, legal and development executive; from the Beef Plan Movement we are joined by its chairman, Mr. Eamon Corley and Ms Nadaline Webster, its general manager; and from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association we are joined by Mr. Denis Drennan, president, and Mr. John Enright, general secretary. They are all very welcome.

The opening statements have been circulated to the members, who have had an opportunity to read over them. There is quite a bit in the statements and they are very thorough. Our aim is to have the maximum impact on the CAP and to make sure our political contribution is up there in front of the President of the Commission and the Commissioners as early as possible and to influence their decision as early as possible in the process. Our aim is to get that contribution in before Christmas. The finance committee has been putting together its contribution and I understand the fisheries committee has already made its submission. We appreciate the witnesses participation on this. Our aim is to get their contribution and then make the submission before Christmas. There are a lot of speakers. Instead of going through the statements that already have been submitted I suggest we go straight into the questions and answers. I ask members to direct their questions to the various witnesses. We will take eight minutes per member. If there is time left over afterwards we can do a second round. The most important thing is for the witnesses to have their say and if there are particular aspects that they feel were not covered in the meeting I would ask they would make a submission before the end of the week to raise those particular points, and make sure they are in as quickly as possible, so that we can put it in front of the Commission as early as possible and to have the maximum influence on the process as it is going ahead.

We will take eight minutes per member starting with Deputies Cleere, Kenny, Fitzmaurice and Aird and we will go on from there.