Chairman:

I welcome from the Committee for Labour and Social Protection of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania Mr. Adrian Solomon, Chairman; Mr. Silviu Vexler, Vice Chairman; Ms Violeta Rãdu, secretary, and Ms Mara-Daniela Calista, member. I also welcome the ambassador of Romania, Ms Manuela Breazu. I hope I have pronounced our guests' names correctly. I also hope they are enjoying their time in Ireland and finding their visit informative.

I will introduce the members of the joint committee who are in attendance. We have Deputies John Brady and Gino Kenny and Senator Alice-Mary Higgins from the Upper House. On the Government side we have Deputy Joe Carey, which is the reason he is sitting on his own. I say that jokingly, as the Deputy can sit where he likes.

I would like the meeting to be as informal as possible in order that members of both committees can ask or answer questions and have an opportunity to participate. I ask Mr. Solomon to make his opening address.