Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome His Excellency, Mr. Richard Opembe, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Kenya to Ireland and I congratulate him on his appointment. His role as ambassador is supplemented by the fact that we now have a resident ambassador in Nairobi which means we have two resident ambassadors, both in Ireland and in Kenya. That will foster closer relations. There is huge potential between our two countries to grow that relationship which existed for many years through the missionaries, tourism and the many Irish people who have travelled to Kenya and the Irish companies working there. I wish the ambassador well in his new role. Coming from an economic and business background, he is well suited for the job to which he has been appointed. It is a great honour for him to represent his country in Ireland.

At the outset I express my sympathy and that of all members of the committee to the ambassador and the people of Kenya on the recent terrorist massacre at Garissa University in northern Kenya. We were all very saddened to see those horrific pictures on our television screens of that massacre when so many young people in the prime of life were taken out and killed. They were attending university trying to do better for themselves. Some would probably have gone on to pursue careers in academia, business or whatever. It was very sad to see that atrocity happen in Kenya.

Ireland has had very strong links with Kenya in the past and I hope this meeting will build on those strong links. We will also concentrate on bilateral relations between Ireland and Kenya. Perhaps the ambassador will update us on the situation with al-Shabaab, in the whole region, with order in Kenya, with Somalia and all these areas.

The format of the meeting is that there will be an opening statement from the ambassador, following which he will take questions from the joint committee. Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses and those in the public gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference, even on silent mode, with the recording equipment. This is particularly important for this meeting because it is being streamed live on Oireachtas TV.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I am aware the ambassador has another engagement later so I call on him to make his opening statement.