Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Dáil has ordered that the Revised Estimates for public services in respect of the following Votes be referred to the committee for consideration, namely, Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs. On behalf of the select committee I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin. I also welcome from the Department Mr. Jonathan Conlon, Mr. John Conlan, Mr. Michael Gaffey and Ms Siobhan Byrne, none of whom are strangers to this committee. I thank them not only for the briefing we received for this afternoon's session but also for their ongoing engagement with the committee, which is much appreciated by members.

The proposed format for this section of the meeting is that the committee will deal with Vote 27 and then Vote 28. At the outset of the consideration of the Revised Estimates, I will invite the Tánaiste to give an overview on both Votes, outlining any pressures likely to impact on the performance of the Department or expenditure on the Vote for the remainder of this year, 2023. We will then open the floor for questions, submissions, observations and comments from members of the committee dealing, insofar as we can, with each Vote separately. When we have completed consideration of Vote 27 we will move on to Vote 28.

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 that person in any way identifiable. I call on the Tánaiste to make an opening statement.