Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This is important as it causes serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff.

First, we will engage with Ms Helga Mizzi, Director General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Malta. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Helga Mizzi to our meeting today. She has travelled all the way from Malta to be with us and we are very grateful to her for the efforts she has made to be here today. She is very welcome to Ireland. The committee is continuing to work towards trying to understand the priorities and positions of our fellow European member states in all our preparations for the negotiations for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. Malta is about to take on a big role in these discussions as it will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January. Most of our engagement with Ms Mizzi today will be about Brexit but she might also like to make a few comments about Malta's Presidency plans. I note the warning to witnesses regarding privilege, which we all know. I invite Ms Mizzi to make her opening remarks and I will then open the floor to questions.