Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, guests and others to ensure that their telephones are switched off. It is not sufficient to put them on silent, as they will interfere with the recording equipment.

We have received apologies from Deputy Kyne.

The first item on our agenda is an exchange of views with the European affairs committee of the French National Assembly. I am delighted to welcome a delegation from the Assembly to our meeting in Dublin.

The delegation is led by the committee chairperson, Ms Danielle Auroi, who is welcome, and she is accompanied by Mr. Michel Piron, who is also a member of the committee. With both Deputies are the French Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Emmanuelle D'Achon. Ms Annabelle Archien is the committee administrator, Ms Marianne Ziss is first secretary at the French Embassy in Dublin and Ms Alexandra Hambling will interpret proceedings today. Members should bear in mind that we should wait for the translation when the guests are speaking.

The French delegation is on a short visit to Ireland at our invitation during the Irish Presidency. A key priority of the committee is to engage with fellow parliamentarians to ensure we understand the joint challenges we face across Europe and within our respective countries. We are looking forward to an exchange of views today with our French colleagues and we hope to impart an understanding of what our committee sees as the interests for Ireland during the Presidency. I will outline where we are with our priorities when I get a chance to speak later today.

I understand the key themes the delegation would like to discuss today are the deepening of economic and monetary union and the implications on national parliaments, particularly in the context of budgetary integration. We will all have something to say about that. They also wish to speak about the strengthening of the economic and monetary union and where we are in agreeing the multi-annual financial framework. They will also speak about energy transition and tackling climate change, which is a subject that has dropped from the political radar in the years since the economic crisis began. I am sure there will be other areas we would also like to discuss.

I invite Ms Auroi to make her opening remarks.