Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, I remind members and those in the Gallery that mobile phones should be switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as, even in silent mode, they cause interference with recording equipment in these committee rooms. The select committee meeting is being broadcast on the Oireachtas television channel and the Internet. The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the motion referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on approving the terms of the framework agreement on comprehensive partnership and co-operation between the European Union and its member states, of the one part, and Mongolia, of the other part. Under the terms of the Dáil motion of 9 May 2017, the committee must consider this matter and, having done so, report back to the Dáil not later than 25 May 2017. On behalf of the select committee, I welcome the Minister and his officials.

We will hear the opening presentation from the Minister and take questions from members thereafter. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the committee, to convey to the British Ambassador and the people of Manchester and Britain our sincere condolences following the brutal and senseless attack on the people of Manchester last Monday night. On behalf of the committee, I wrote to the British Ambassador on Tuesday morning conveying to him our deepest condolences and asking him to pass them to the local communities affected by this senseless act of terrorism. As a committee, we also express our sympathy to Britain in general as it deals with yet another cruel and brutal attack on society. It was a heinous and barbaric act, targeting young and innocent people. I want to put on record our committee's abhorrence of these evil acts.