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

I thank Ms Katsarava for her comprehensive and clear outline of the relationship between our two countries and the potential for further development of trade and other links. With her colleagues, she is very welcome to mark the celebration of the centenary. In 2017 two delegations visited Georgia. The Cathaoirleach of the Upper House, the Seanad, led a parliamentary delegation, while committee members visited Ms Katsarava's country in July 2017. I take the strong point made by Ms Katsarava about the need for trade delegations to examine the potential for increased trade and investment opportunities. These are issues we can raise with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

The issue of the visa requirements to be met is one we will raise as a committee with the Minister for Justice and Equality to see if it can be made easier for people who wish to visit our country. Ms Katsarava made two very strong requests, to which we hope the Government will give urgent consideration.

In the meetings Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Noel Grealish and I had in Ms Katsarava's country with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister, the European Integration Minister, the foreign affairs European integration committee, the Speaker and other Members of Parliament the clear and strong message at all times was that they were concerned, as public representatives and parliamentarians, about the violation of the territorial integrity of their country. Ms Katsarava rightly laid very strong emphasis on that issue. It is one that has been discussed at the committee. I am very glad that Ms Katsarava referred to the motion of support adopted unanimously on the territorial integrity of Georgia and its integration into the European Union. It was a very strong message from this Parliament, one that all of us support.

I will call two colleagues at a time. I call, first, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, who will be followed by Deputy Darragh O'Brien.