Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, and his officials to today's meeting. He will brief the committee on the forthcoming Competitiveness Council meeting which takes place next week in Brussels. I apologise for the slight delay in the start to this meeting but this was due to dealing with committee private business and reports which will be heading the Minister's way.

I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.