Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Ms Cait Moran, the director of the Middle East and north Africa unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Feilim McLaughlin, director of global programmes in Irish Aid.

The format of the meeting is that we will hear the opening statements of our guests before going into a question-and-answer session with members of the committee. As we are quite time limited due to Covid-19 restrictions, I ask that our witnesses be conscious of the fact that we are under time constraint when initially addressing the committee in order to allow for maximum engagement. Following the opening statements, there will be a discussion and questions and answers from members of our committee. I ask members to be concise in their questions. I will allocate three and a half minutes to each member in the hope that we will be in a position to have a second round to deal with further outstanding questions.

Witnesses to this afternoon's session are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make them identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. However, I am quite confident that senior officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs will be more than careful in the exercise of their words and use of their language.

Witnesses attending remotely, outside the Leinster House campus, should note there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present currently does. Witnesses participating in the committee session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should also be mindful of domestic law and how it may apply to any evidence given to the committee.

I am pleased to call Ms Moran, followed by Mr. McLaughlin, to make their opening statements and I thank them for joining us.