Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I apologise to members for the late start to this meeting, which is the result of the Dáil being adjourned as a mark of respect to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I and many other Members of the Houses travelled to County Louth earlier to attend Detective Garda Donohoe's funeral and most of us have just returned. I am sure all members of this committee will extend their sympathies to the Garda Commissioner and to Adrian Donohoe's wife, Caroline, and the other members of this family.

We are joined by a very interesting individual, Mr. Martin Murray, who I met approximately six months ago and who is executive director of Asia Matters. The latter is an independent and apolitical think-tank which was established to bring enhanced partnership by Irish interest in the EU-Asia interaction and relations. It also has the objective of building and reinforcing EU-Asia networks to deepen mutual understanding in order to produce shared benefit and value. Mr. Murray is here to share his organisation's perspective on trade promotion in the context of a series of meetings and other activities the committee has been undertaking in respect of trade promotion and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery.

The aim of the committee's examination is to prepare and publish a report on the strategy and response of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the economic crisis, the Department's newly recognised responsibilities in trade promotion and the programme for Government in terms of trade promotion and economic and reputational recovery and how well the Department is performing in these respects.

The committee commenced the process in 2012 with the formal adoption of a scoping document. We have discussed the issues with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and have held meetings with the main State agencies involved in trade and investment. A delegation of the committee had 30 trade related meetings in three cities in the United States. I travelled to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Minister and had a number of trade meetings there. The committee also heard private sector views from IBEC and the Irish Exporters Association. As we know, the Irish Exporters Association was supportive of the idea of Ireland placing more emphasis on Asia.

The committee also intends to examine the way in which the visa system supports or inhibits trade promotion and to meet organisations with perspectives on the promotion of agricultural exports. More recently, we have sought meetings with organisations which are involved in the development of mutual trading relationships with key markets.

At this meeting the committee will focus on the potential for Ireland to avail of the exciting trade opportunities Asia has to offer. We hope Mr. Murray can offer views on how trade promotion infrastructure can be harnessed to maximum advantage.

Early last year we saw the importance of the visit of the Chinese Vice President, Mr. Xi Jinping, who is now the incoming President. Ireland is the only country in Europe which Mr. Xi Jinping has visited before he takes over the Presidency in March. We have seen much business since with China. There are other areas as well, which I am sure Mr. Murray will explain.

Before I invite Mr. Murray to make his presentation, I advise him that he is protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at this committee meeting. However, if he is directed by the committee to cease making remarks on a particular matter and he continues to so do, he is entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of his remarks. He is directed that only comments and evidence in regard to the subject matter of this meeting is to be given and he is asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, he should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome Mr. Murray to the committee and look forward to hearing about the exciting ideas Asia Matters has. I am sure members will be very anxious to ask questions on trade with Asia.