Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will resume in public session. I very much welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, to discuss matters that arose at the recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Security Council. The Minister is particularly welcome here in person this afternoon for the first time in quite a while. I also welcome his officials. I thank them and the Minister for the comprehensive briefing material supplied to our members prior to the meeting. The format of the meeting is that we will hear an opening statement from the Minister before going into a question and answer session with members of the committee.

I remind the Minister and members 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 or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex. There are a number of members present and I assume we have members online from their offices as well, although I do not see them at present. For anybody watching this meeting online, some members and witnesses are accessing the meeting in remote format. Due to the unprecedented circumstances and the fact that members are attending remotely while some are in the committee room, I ask that everyone bear with us should technical issues arise.

I am not sure what the Proclamation is doing at our meeting, not that it is in any way unwelcome. That is Senator Ó Donnghaile's office. I am not sure if it indicates whether he is present-----