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

I thank the Tánaiste. I am keen to move on. We have a full house and we have to move on to the subject of defence. I thank the Tánaiste and his official, Ms Hyland, for their engagement. I also thank the Tánaiste for his words of condolence and, indeed, members of the committee for their words of condolence in respect of the brutal murder of Kim Damti, whose family are from my constituency and, indeed, are well known to me. I propose that a suitable note of condolence be drafted and sent on behalf of committee members to the family having regard to what has been said this afternoon.

I do not propose to suspend the meeting in respect of moving on to discuss defence, if that is okay, Tánaiste. I propose that we move directly to his statement and to questions and answers on the part of members. We are still in public session. I ask the Tánaiste for his opening statement in respect of defence and then I will proceed to members.