Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. That completes the select committee's consideration of Vote 28. We will now proceed to Vote 27, international co-operation. Before I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, to make his opening remarks, I wish to point out that there are six subheads in Vote 27 and, with the permission of members, we will deal with them all together rather than go through them individually so as to speed up the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed. Subhead A1 deals with administration - payroll, subhead A2 with administration - non-payroll, subhead A3 with bilateral and other co-operation, subhead A4 with emergency humanitarian assistance, subhead A5 with payments to international funds and subhead A6 with contributions to the UN and other development agencies.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, to this, his first meeting with the committee. We hope to have him here by himself in the near future to deal with other Irish Aid issues. We welcome him and wish him well with his portfolio. I now invite him to make his contribution.