Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the recording equipment in the committee room even when in silent mode.

On 4 December 2013, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with the committee and announced his Department will carry out a review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external engagement. The committee agreed at that meeting that it would take submissions in a review of this. Accordingly, it will conduct hearings this afternoon and tomorrow. Following this week’s meeting, the committee will compile a report to submit to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I welcome Mr. Noel Dorr, a former ambassador who has had a long and distinguished career in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Professor Ben Tonra, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. I invite Mr. Noel Dorr to make his opening statement.