Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC, Dr. Pat Ivory, head of international relations, Ms Paula O'Dwyer, senior executive in trade and regional policy, and, Mr. Brendan Butler, director of policy and international affairs. I also welcome from the Irish Exporters Association, Mr. John Whelan, chief executive officer, and Mr. Michael Slein, vice president.

This meeting is another in a series of meetings and other activities which the committee is undertaking with regard to the promotion of trade and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery. The aim of the committee's examination is to prepare and publish a report on the strategy and response of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the economic crisis, the Department's new recognised responsibilities for trade promotion, and how well the Department is performing in respect of the programme for Government measures for trade promotion and economic recovery.

The committee commenced this process earlier this year with a formal adoption of a scoping document and a meeting with senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the key State agencies involved in trade and investment, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás. A delegation of the committee had 30 trade-related meetings in three cities in the United States over six days in June.

After today's meeting, the committee will examine the way in which the visa system supports or inhibits trade promotion, meet with organisations with perspectives on the promotion of agricultural exports, and hear international perspectives from business organisations, as well as from chambers of commerce. It is essential we hear the views of the key players in the private sector who operate at the coalface of our international trade. Accordingly, we will now hear from IBEC and the Irish Exporters Association. Both are members of the Export Trade Council which was established by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am sure they have views on how it is performing too.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and the witness continues to so do, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his or her evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

IBEC will be first to present and then the Irish Exporters Association. Questions will then be asked by members. I hope contributions from members will be more questions rather than Second Stage speeches which will allow for better interaction between both groups. Before we begin, I want to thank Dr. Pat Ivory for information he provided to the committee's delegation before its visit to the US over the summer.