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

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is welcome before the committee to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. I remind members of the parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person. As we have less than an hour for this meeting, I will call on the Minister to make his opening remarks straight away. We will then move to questions.

I ask members to desist from taking positions and encourage them to ask direct questions of the Minister, given the timeframe for the meeting and the ongoing fluidity of our situation. There will be other opportunities in other forums to make speeches. I ask the Minister to commence. I thank him and his officials for meeting us.