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

In part one of today's meeting, we will meet Mr. Niall Burgess, Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mr. Ruairí de Búrca, director of Irish Aid. I extend a welcome to them and to their officials, Ms Nicola Brennan, Ms Emer O'Connell and Ms Nicole McHugh, to today's meeting.

The joint committee agreed as part of its work programme for 2017 to review the work of Irish Aid, particularly the overseas development aid programme, and the way in which this is being used to deliver added value in communities around the world. I consider the committee's review to be timely following the agreement in 2015 of the sustainable development goals and the continuing and changing needs globally for humanitarian assistance. This is the first in a series of meetings with the relevant stakeholders and the joint committee proposes to report on its findings to both the Dáil and Seanad later this year.

The format of the meeting is that we will hear the opening statement before going into a question and answer session with members of the committee. Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they can cause interference, even in silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee room.

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, her or it 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 joint committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They 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 to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I call on the Secretary General, Mr. Burgess, to make his opening statement. I understand that he will be followed by Mr. de Búrca.