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

I have received apologies from Deputy David Stanton. Our engagement today is with representatives from the United Nations Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund to discuss their work in response to the situation in Ukraine. I am particularly pleased to welcome Ms Ghita El Khyari, the head of secretariat, who is joining us via MS teams and Ms Breifní Flanagan, who is with in person and who is a policy consultant with the fund, together with their partner, Ms Olena Stryzhak from the Ukrainian civil society organisation, Positive Women, who is joining us from Ukraine via MS teams. They will be discussing with us their experience of working in response to the situation in Ukraine and are all very welcome.

I also want to mention welcome students from the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I understand that they are engaged in summer studies abroad in UCD. I dare say that this is the first time that students from Georgia Tech have had the opportunity of attending this committee and they are also very welcome. We are more used to watching Georgia Tech on the American football fields, particularly the very exciting challenge matches we have experienced here in Dublin over the years against such luminaries as Pennsylvania State University and Boston College footballers. We hope that they have an opportunity during the their busy study schedule to take some time off to see a game of Gaelic football in Croke Park while they are here.

The format of the meeting is that we are still operating under a quasi-restrictive regime insofar as some of our members are operating from their offices through MS Teams and, as we have already adverted to, our guest witnesses, with the exception of Ms Flanagan, are also join the meeting via MS Teams. The format of the meeting then is in the usual manner. We will hear the opening statements which our witnesses wish to make followed by a discussion with questions and answers with members of the committee. I ask members, as always, to be concise in their questions to allow all members the opportunity to participate. Hopefully, we can then have a second round of questions, should members so desire and if time allows.

Witnesses and members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make that person in any way identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if statements are in any way potentially defamatory in respect to any entity or person, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that any such direction be complied with.

For witnesses attending remotely outside of our Leinster House campus, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and as such they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses who are physically present might. Members are also reminded that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex, that is, in offices or here in the committee chamber.

I am very pleased, therefore, to commence our proceedings by calling Ms El Khyari to make her opening statement. She will be followed by Ms Stryzhak and then we will give the floor to Ms Flanagan. I thank our witnesses.