Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Apologies have been received from Senators Ned O'Sullivan and Billy Lawless.

Today we will have a discussion with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion in Malta, Mr. Carmelo Abela, to discuss matters of mutual interest. The Minister is most welcome and I trust his visit to our country will be successful. It has been successful already in that he has been warmly received at every engagement included in his programme. Committee members are very interested in hearing from him and we are very happy to have this engagement with him in our Parliament. I also welcome the Maltese ambassador to renew our friendship. I thank colleagues on the Joint Committee on European Affairs for accommodating the approach to this meeting. A visit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of a valued partner member of the European Union is very much of interest to our colleagues on that committee. We will hear the Minister's opening remarks before having a question and answer session with members of the committee.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or body outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I call on the Minister to make his opening remarks.