Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Apologies have been received from Senator Craughwell, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who is on duty in the Seanad, and Senator Wilson.

The subject of our meeting is to meet again with Her Excellency Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, and for her to provide an update on the current situation in Ukraine and the wider region, with particular reference to the economic consequences of the devastation in the region. Ambassador Gerasko is joined by Mr. Dmytro Shchedrin, first secretary at the embassy. They are welcome. I also extend a welcome to friends in the diplomatic corps - ambassadors in the region of Ukraine. They are all welcome.

I note we have some students in the Public Gallery from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA, who are on the summer study abroad programme at UCD. They are welcome to this meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. Students from Georgia Institute of Technology are no strangers to Dublin. I assume there are some football players among them. Georgia Tech is always welcome to our annual student American football game held in our national stadium at Croke Park. In the meantime, I wish them well in their studies in UCD and Dublin.

The format of our meeting is that, in the usual manner, we will hear an opening statement from the ambassador to be followed by a question and answer session with members of the committee. I ask members to be concise in their questions to allow all members the opportunity to participate.

I remind witnesses and members 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 them in any way identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of any 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.

I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex. I remind witnesses that we are still operating something of a post-Covid hybrid format in that it is possible for members to participate online from their offices. I do not see any members doing so now, but in the event some do, I will draw the matter to the attention of the speaker.

I now call Ambassador Gerasko to make her opening statement.