Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and his officials to the meeting today. Following events surrounding the Northern Ireland protocol, the committee welcomes the opportunity to engage and ask questions about the sequence of events that ultimately led to the European Commission triggering Article 16 before it made a U-turn on that decision.

As members of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, we feel we have a twofold responsibility in this regard: first, to ask questions at a Government level as to what happened and how it happened and, second, we must have accountability at a Commission level. We want to ensure what happened does not happen again and that we can have public trust and confidence in the protocol's procedure in the future. We look forward to the engagement today. The Minister of State will get a feeling and a sense from the members as to where they are on this issue. Last week, however, there was a certain anxiety and obvious desire to deal with this issue. We appreciate the Minister of State being with us today.

Before we begin, 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 also remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex. In this regard, I ask that all members confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making their contribution to the meeting. For anyone watching this meeting online, Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Only the Chairman and the necessary staff essential to the running of the meeting are physically present in the committee room. Due to these unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask that everyone bear with us should any technical issues arise.

I now call the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to make his opening statement.