I welcome members of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection from the German Bundestag and other members of the delegation who are visiting Ireland this week. I also welcome H.E. Ambassador Christian Pauls who is accompanying the delegation. The members are all welcome to this special meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. Our joint committee comprises Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. They are equivalent to the US House of Representatives and Senate, respectively. The joint committee comprises 15 members but for the purpose of dealing with legislation we sit as a select committee in which Members of the Dáil, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, or her Ministers of State attend the meeting.
I invite Mr. Zoellmer to introduce his delegation. I will then introduce the members of the committee.