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

Today is an unique occasion whereby two joint committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas meet together in public session. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae chairs the Joint Committee on European Affairs. I welcome the members of both committees to this meeting. On behalf of both committees I am delighted to extend a céad míle fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes to the First Vice-President, Mr. Frans Timmermans, to this the first joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence committee and the European Affairs committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

This meeting provides an opportunity to engage and share views with members in somewhat changeable times. I welcome the head of the European Commission representation in Ireland, Mr. Gerry Kiely, whom we meet on a regular basis and the members of Mr. Timmermans's cabinet, Ms Michelle Sutton and Ms Liesbeth Koenen.

As EU Commissioner with responsibility for better regulation, intra-institutional relations, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, members from both committees will have much to discuss with you. As First Vice-President, I am certain that members will welcome your views on the future of the European Union, the migration crisis, Europe's Common Foreign and Security Policy and not least the unique challenges that Brexit poses to the island of Ireland and Europe as a whole.

Before we proceed I invite my colleague, Deputy Healy-Rae to say a few words.