Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the ambassador, H.E. Dr. Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu. I thank her for coming before the committee this afternoon to update it on the current political situation in and Ireland's bilateral links with Nigeria. Ireland has established strong links with Nigeria and in today's meeting we hope to further strengthen those links. Today's meeting will concentrate on bilateral relations between Ireland and Nigeria and there will be an update on the security situation in Nigeria as well as the activities of Boko Haram. We will hear an opening statement from the ambassador and will then take questions from members of the joint committee.

Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure that their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting, as they cause interference with the recording equipment, even when in silent mode. Today's meeting is being streamed live on TV.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(i) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they will be entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.