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

On behalf of the select committee, I again welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and thank officials for the comprehensive briefing material provided to the committee and for the level of engagement with the committee, which is on a most satisfactory level. I thank the Tánaiste for ensuring that.

The proposed format of this section of the meeting is that the committee will deal with Vote 27 and then Vote 28. At the outset of the consideration of the Estimates, I invite the Tánaiste to give an overview of Votes 27 and 28, outlining any pressures likely to impact on his Department's performance or expenditure under the Votes for the remainder of this year. The floor will then be open for questions from members of the committee for each Vote separately. When we have completed consideration of Vote 27, we will proceed to consider Vote 28.

I remind 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make them in any way identifiable.

I call the Tánaiste to make his opening statement.