Apologies have been received from Senator Boylan.
I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones.
I bring to the witnesses' attention that 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 against 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 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 the utterances of Members participating online in committee meetings 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 today's meeting is a resumed examination of compliance with the nitrates directive and the implications for Ireland. The committee will hear from the following representatives: from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Bill Callanan, chief inspector, Mr. Ted Massey, senior inspector, nitrates division, and Dr. Leanne Roche, agriculture inspector, nitrates division; and, from Teagasc, Professor Frank O'Mara, director, Professor Pat Dillon, head of research, and Dr. Stan Lalor, director of knowledge transfer and national advisory programmes. You are all very welcome to the meeting. Their opening statements have been circulated to members. I will now allow them time to read their opening statements, starting with the Department and then Teagasc. Then we will proceed to a question and answer session. As they are probably aware, this is one of a series of meetings we are having on nitrates. We have had the decision on 1 January to reduce to 220 kg N/ha, which has serious implications. Farmers and the whole dairy industry are extremely worried about the review coming up at the back end of 2025, which is only a year and a half away. It is bringing huge uncertainty to people's planning for the future. Also, the economic consequences of dropping to 170 kg N/ha would be dire for the whole industry. As a committee, therefore, we made a decision to bring in all stakeholders. We have had environmental groups etc. in here in recent weeks. We are bringing in all stakeholders to try to put all the facts together and to try to see how this country can make a credible, practical case for at least the retention of the present 220 kg N/ha.
I now ask Mr. Callanan to make his opening statement.