Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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All mobile phones should be switched off as they cause interference even if on silent mode with the recording equipment in committee rooms. Today's meeting has been convened to consider in part A a Supplementary Estimate for Vote 35 - Army pensions; and in part B a Supplementary Estimate for Vote 27 - international co-operation. These were referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on 21 November 2018 and a briefing has been circulated to members. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and his officials for attending and assisting our consideration of this Supplementary Estimate. I also thank the Minister of State and his Department for the briefing material circulated to all committee members. I remind members that in accordance with Standing Orders, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimates only and not other matters relevant to the Departments. I ask the Minister of State to make his opening remarks.