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

The second part of the meeting is a discussion with the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and international development, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. The Minister of State and his officials are very welcome.

We are at a critical juncture in our overseas development programme. In recent weeks the joint committee has had an opportunity to hear expert presentations by Irish Aid non-governmental organisations; the former permanent representative of Ireland to the United Nations, Mr. David Donoghue; representatives from academia and ambassadors of partner countries. The committee's review is timely from the perspective of recent statements and commitments made by the Taoiseach and the Government on the doubling of Ireland's global footprint and increasing our overseas development aid. It is also the case that two years have passed since agreement was reached on the targets set in the sustainable development goals. As a committee, we must support and push the Government to ensure will Ireland meet all of its commitments by 2030.

The format of the meeting is that the Minister of State will make an opening statement, after which we will have a question and answer session with members. I remind members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee room.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the House 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. However, if they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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 invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.