Correspondence has been circulated. Is it agreed to note it? Agreed.
Business of Joint Committee
I would like the joint committee to express its concern at the escape from prison of the person jailed for organising the murder of the Irish citizen, Margaret Hassan, apparently with the collusion of certain officials.
We will put that on the agenda.
On the correspondence, one item was sent from the Joint Committee on European Affairs regarding Joe O'Brien and the ecumenical accompaniment programme to Palestine and Israel. Mr. O'Brien has also been in contact with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. The clerk to the committee may investigate the request that I understand has been made to the Joint Committee on European Affairs to brief it on trade matters and goods produced in illegal settlements, which represent a different slant on the Israel-Palestine issue. It would be worth our while to put aside time to examine that specific issue.
That could be arranged. I remind members of the invitation from the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas assistance, Deputy Peter Power, to the launch of the 2009 Irish Aid annual report at 11 a.m. on 6 September in the Irish Aid centre on Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin.
The joint committee adjourned at 1.40 p.m. sine die.