Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have received apologies from Deputy David Stanton.

Item No. 1 on our agenda today is our meeting with the ambassador of Colombia to Ireland. It gives me pleasure to welcome Her Excellency Ms Patricia Cortés Ortiz, the ambassador of Colombia to Ireland and Mr. Emilio José Archila Peñalosa, Presidential Counsellor for Stabilisation and Consolidation in Colombia, to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement in Colombia. I particularly welcome Mr. Emilio José Archila Peñalosa, who is joining us from Bogota at something of an early hour there.

We will hear opening statements from Ms Cortés Ortiz and Mr. Archila Peñalosa before going into a question-and-answer session with members of the committee. As we are somewhat time limited due to Covid restrictions, I ask that members and witnesses be conscious of the time constraints when initially addressing the committee to allow each and every member an opportunity to contribute.

I remind witnesses 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 witness will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks and it is imperative that such a direction is complied with.

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. I do not anticipate that will arise in the context of this meeting. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex or in the Convention Centre Dublin, where the Dáil and Seanad are meeting today.

For anybody watching this meeting online, some Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Due to the unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask everybody to bear with us in the event of any technical issues arising.

I invite Ms Patricia Cortés Ortiz to make her opening statement.