Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We have received apologies from Senators Coghlan and Richmond.

I am glad that we are having an engagement with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy, and his officials. On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome the Minister of State. We always appreciate the time he gives to the committee and the level of engagement we have with him. There are important times ahead for Ireland and the European Union and this strong engagement remains vital. Since our previous meeting, the United Kingdom formally indicated its intention to withdraw from the European Union and last week this committee met the British ambassador to discuss that matter.

We have a number of important issues to cover with the Minister of State, namely: the ongoing work of the General Affairs Council; how the Minister of State sees the key developments on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union; the future of Europe, a strategically important issue for this committee that we will focus on in some of our future work; and the European semester process this week.

I would like the Minister of State to make his opening remarks on these four issues before a question-and-answer session.

Members are reminded of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person 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)(l) 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 committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter but continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I call on the Minister of State to address the committee.