Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration of a motion on the accession of Ireland to the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere which was referred to the committee by order of the Dáil on 14 June 2018. The committee has been asked to send a message to the Dáil not later than 27 June 2018 stating that it has completed its consideration of the motion.

The briefing prepared by the Department has been circulated to members. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Halligan, and his officials to the meeting. I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.