Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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The purpose of today's meeting is to have a discussion with Ms Vra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency. We are joined by a member of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, Deputy Ó Murchú, who is very welcome. All participants are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name 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 the person or entity.

I am pleased to welcome Vice-President Jourová to our meeting today. Vitajte. She is joined by Mr. Álvaro de Elera, who is a member of the Vice-President's cabinet. Bienvenido. She is also joined by Mr. Jonathan Claridge, who is deputy head of the European Commission representation in Ireland. They are very welcome.

I understand the Vice-President is interested in discussing a number of matters with us today but particularly the European Commission's Rule of Law Report, which was adopted in July of this year, and the rule of law situation in Ireland. I also understand that a copy of our report on civil liberties during the Covid 19 pandemic was sent to her and I hope she found it interesting.

I invite Vice-President Jourová to make her opening remarks, following which we will have an engagement with the committee members.