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

The purpose of this meeting is to consider the Estimates for Vote 35 - Army Pensions, and Vote 36 - Defence. On behalf of the select committee, I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin and his officials. I thank the Tánaiste's officials and the Department for the briefing material provided.

The format of the meeting will be that Tánaiste will give an overview of Votes 35 and 36, outlining any pressures likely to impact on the Department's performance or expenditure for the remainder of this year. I suggest that we take the Votes in reverse order. When the Tánaiste concludes his opening statement, we will open the floor for questions from members. I suggest that at about 3.15 p.m., or when we have exhausted our questions on Vote 36, we will then move to Vote 35. The Tánaiste will deal with the latter by way of a separate overview. Having regard to the fact that it is Thursday afternoon and that we might not have a full compliment of members, I suggest that we be somewhat flexible in the context of time. I understand that the team from the Department of Foreign Affairs is on standby and ready to take over as soon as the questions relating to the defence Vote have been exhausted.