Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Tom Boland, chief executive, and Mr. Muiris O'Connor, head of policy and planning, Higher Education Authority, Mr. Ned Costello, chief executive, and Mr. Lewis Purser, director of academic affairs, Irish Universities Association, Dr. Brendan Murphy, president of Cork Institute of Technology, Mr. Denis Cummins, president of Dundalk Institute of Technology, and Professor Brian Norton, president of Dublin Institute of Technology. They are present to discuss the skills mismatch between industry requirements and the courses provided by the third level sector with specific reference to information and communications technology, ICT, foreign languages and food production and technology.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members 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 him or her identifiable.

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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I ask Mr. Boland to make his opening remarks, and he is to be followed by Mr. Costello, Dr. Murphy and Professor Norton. Members may ask questions afterwards.