Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I remind those present to ensure their mobile phones have been switched off. This is important as they can still cause serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff, even when left in silent mode.

Today we will have a discussion on the European Union's enlargement strategy from the perspective of candidate and potential candidate countries. I warmly welcome the ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Ireland, Mr. Burhan, and Mr. Jasmin Kahil, chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia. I also welcome the ambassadors and other distinguished guests in the Visitors Gallery. I hope they will find the meeting beneficial and informative. I thank Mr. Kahil for taking the time to travel from London to speak to us.

The enlargement stratey encompasses one of the European Union's most important and influential policies. The European Union started with six member states in 1957. Today it has 28 member states, at least for the time being. We, in Ireland, have always been very supportive of enlargement. Ireland joined the European Union over 45 years ago in 1973. Membership of the Union has been of enormous benefit to us, both socially and economically, and we would not pull up the ladder behind us. The opportunity to join the European Union should be open to those countries that meet the membership criteria, although at the same time the Union must be conscious of its capacity. That is an important point.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to build on the discussions we held last year on the European Union's enlargement strategy and discuss it from the point of view of the two candidate countries with which we were not in a position to engage last year. The process for joining the European Union is not an easy one; neither is the process for leaving it. The road to accession is often very bumpy. As we have seen, it can be fraught with political obstacles. We genuinely appreciate, therefore, the immense efforts each candidate country has made to meet the European Union's membership criteria and hope they will be rewarded in time.

When it comes to discussing the efforts the Republic of North Macedonia has made, I am sure no country has changed its name in order to travel down this road.

I was disappointed when the recent European Council was not able to come to an agreed position to move to the next stage of the process with the Republic of North Macedonia. We are very interested in hearing the delegates' perspectives on the benefits of and challenges in the accession process.

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 it 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 entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any opening statement and other document submitted to the committee may be published on its website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite H.E. Mr. Levent Murat Burhan to make his opening statement.