At our first meeting in January I propose to discuss our work programme for 2012. I expect our priorities for 2012 will be limited to: the Irish Aid programme; foreign trade and promotion; the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery; Ireland's chairmanship of the OSCE; EU enlargement; the Common Foreign and Security Policy; Ireland's EU Presidency in 2013; the Middle East peace process; the Arab spring and transition to democracy; human rights; and the Asia strategy. If members have further suggestions we can discuss them at our first meeting in the new year.
On behalf of members, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the clerk to the committee, Paul Kelly, who is moving to better places and higher houses. He will be moving to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. I thank him for the work he has done over the six years he has been involved with this committee. He was very helpful to me in the period since I became Chair of the committee and I wish him well in his new task.
I wish members and their families, the diplomatic corps, NGOs and all those who attend our meetings a very happy Christmas and new year. I look forward to working with them in 2012.