Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I start our special meeting today by welcoming our former Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern. I thank him for joining us. We wanted to have a chance to engage with him this week as tomorrow, 9 May, is Europe Day. That gives us an opportunity to celebrate peace and unity across the EU. It is a very important day for those of us who have a very strong belief in and commitment to the European project and what the EU represents. The committee has done considerable work in recent years and months on enlargement and the future of Europe. We thought it would be very appropriate to hear from Mr. Ahern today.

Twenty years ago, under an Irish Presidency led by him, we welcomed ten new member states: Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. They are written down in front of me in case anybody thinks I can remember them all off the top of my head. In the 20 years since, that has given 450 million Europeans an opportunity to enjoy the freedom of movement across that much larger European Union with citizens having stronger rights and freedoms. The economies of those new member states have prospered, just as our country prospered from its membership. They have seen many benefits such as their unemployment rates plummeting.

We understand the transformative impact that EU membership has had for Ireland and those member states. Part of our discussion we will consider the impact of a new further-enlarged Union. We will be reflect on and draw some lessons from Mr. Ahern's experience in his time as Taoiseach.

I will now read the formal note on privilege. All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded 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 or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members participating remotely must confirm they are present in Leinster House if they wish to speak.

It is a pleasure to welcome Mr. Ahern here and I invite him to make his opening remarks.