Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The main purpose of this evening's meeting is for a discussion with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the achievements of the EU Presidency, the Foreign Affairs Council in the second quarter of 2013 and the objectives of the membership of the Human Rights Council. We have quite a busy agenda so I am quite anxious to get the proceedings started quickly.

On behalf of the committee, Tánaiste, I want to welcome you here this afternoon. The subject matter for the meeting is quite extensive. I am sure there will be many questions from members on it. I know we had a very successful Presidency of the European Union. It did not cost as much as we anticipated it would cost, and that is a sign of all the work that went into it by the officials and yourself. We have a lot of experience in that area, given that this is our seventh Presidency. Well done to all concerned in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and to our diplomats abroad for the work they did during the Presidency, and to everybody else concerned. I now ask you to make your presentation.