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 cause interference even when on silent mode with the recording equipment in the committee rooms.

We are here today to meet H.E. Dr. Michalis Stavrinos, ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Ireland. He is accompanied by Mr. Macrikios from the embassy. They are both very welcome. I wish, first, to extend my condolences to the ambassador on the sudden death last Saturday of the Defence Minister in Cyprus, Minister Mitsopoulos. He was only 48 years of age and died from an aneurysm and associated cardiac failure. He had been promoted as Minister for Defence earlier this month following a reshuffle and prior to his appointment to that position he was Minister for Communications. On behalf of the committee and the members of the committee, I wish to offer my sympathy and condolences to the ambassador's government and to the late Minister's family. I hope he will convey those sentiments to all concerned.

The ambassador is here today to address the committee on the relaunch of the Cyprus peace talks and the committee very much look forward to hearing about the progress of these talks. I am sure over the years we have had many discussions in this committee before I became chairman on the Cyprus peace talks but to no avail.

After stalling for several years talks have begun again and I look forward to hearing about the headway made in these negotiations. There is a direct Irish connection as the first Cypriot ambassador to Ireland, Andreas Mavroyiannis, has been selected as the Greek Cypriot negotiator. His time here will have been important to him. He was here some time ago and knows what happened in the talks on Northern Ireland. This experience will be important for him. I am sure the committee will join me in also wishing the Turkish Cypriot negotiator the best of luck in the coming months.

We will hear from the ambassador, followed by questions and answers from committee members.