Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to meet with the chairman designate of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, Mr. Gordon Clark, in order to discuss the approach he will take in his new role and his views on the challenges facing the new authority. Members will be aware of the Government decision of 11 May, which puts new arrangements in place for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. The committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairman designate in public session to hear his views and we trust this provides greater transparency to the process of appointment to our State boards and bodies.

On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Clark. Mr. John Monahan, the chairman designate of the Grangegorman Development Agency, is in the Gallery and I welcome him as a guest. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements for the committee will be published on the committee website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Clark to make his opening remarks.