Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have a quorum. Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy Dominic Hannigan, and Deputy Seán Crowe. I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off as they can cause serious problems for the broadcasting system. I welcome television viewers who are watching this meeting live today on the Oireachtas channel on the UPC and Sky networks. The committee is continuing its work of considering the critical issues facing Ireland in the event of the UK deciding to exit the European Union. A referendum on that question has been promised by the UK Prime Minister if returned to power following the general election in May. It is important to say to members that the committee took the decision to examine this issue now in view of its many potential impacts on this country and the many Irish citizens living in the UK.

Today the committee's work will be divided into two different sessions. The first session will focus on the UK politics surrounding the issue of BrExit with the assistance of Baroness Quin of the House of Lords and Mr. Brendan Halligan, chairman of the Institute for International and European Affairs. The time allowed for this session is one hour until 3.30 p.m. In the second session today, we will be joined by the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy, to hear the Government's views on the prospects for UK-EU relations.