Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind everybody to ensure their telephones are switched off. Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy Dominic Hannigan. The first and main item on our agenda is an exchange of views with the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the delegates to Ireland and the Oireachtas, and I hope their visit is good and informative.

The individual members are Ms Joyce Bateman, MP, Ms Annick Papillon, MP, Senator David Tkachuk and Senator Joan Fraser. The delegation is led by Mr. David Tilson, MP. I understand this is an opportunity for the delegation to visit Ireland and see the work being done here in the run-up to the EU Presidency. It will allow the members to gain an understanding of what is currently happening in Ireland. This afternoon the delegation will also go before the Oireachtas committees dealing with foreign affairs and environmental matters. We want a good exchange of views but the delegation must leave this meeting early in order to make its next meeting. We will try to be efficient and make best use of the delegation's time.

The delegation is interested in discussing priorities for the upcoming Presidency, the Irish and European response to the sovereign debt crisis, Canadian and European Union relations and bilateral relations between Canada and Ireland.

To make the best use of everyone's time, I will invite Mr. Tilson to make some opening comments, following which members can express any views or put any questions they may have to the delegation, and likewise if members of the delegation have any points or questions they wish to put to the committee, I will facilitate that. On behalf of us all, the members of the delegation are very welcome to Ireland and to our committee meeting. I will hand over to Mr. Tilson to make some opening comments.