Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile phones. On 15 December 2016, the Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. We will consider these Revised Estimates today and report back to the Dáil. I welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and international development, Deputy McHugh. I also welcome the departmental officials and thank them for their briefing in advance of this meeting.

Before we move to the main substance of this meeting, on behalf of the Joint and Select Committees for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence I would like to pass on our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of our former ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Lorcan Fullam, who I understand passed away at the weekend. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

It is proposed that we will deal first with Vote 28 on a programme by programme basis. At the outset of consideration of each of the programmes the Minister will give an overview of the programme and I will then open it up to the floor for questions from members. On completion of Vote 28 we will proceed to Vote 27 and consider it in a similar manner.

Before proceeding to the business, I remind members and those in the public Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the broadcasting equipment even if on silent mode. I also remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make any charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members have received advanced briefing on the various programmes.

I now invite the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to make his opening remarks on programme A, the purpose of which is to serve people at home and abroad and to promote reconciliation and co-operation