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

Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, I remind members and those in the Public Gallery that their mobile phones should be switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference, even if in silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee rooms.

The purpose of this meeting is to consider the motions referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on the agreement between the member states of the European Union concerning the status of military and civilian staff seconded to the institutions of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement.

Under the terms of the Dáil motion of 16 January 2019, the committee must consider the matter and, having done so, must send a message back to the Dáil not later than 5 February 2019.

I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for defence, Deputy Kehoe, to today's meeting. I also welcome the officials from the Department and thank them for the briefing material forwarded to the committee in advance of the meeting. The format of this meeting will be that we will hear the opening presentation from the Minister of State and then take questions from the members of the committee.

Before commencing, I remind members of the committee of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I call the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe.