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

I welcome the following delegates from the Irish Universities Association: Mr. Ned Costello, chief executive officer; Mr. Lewis Purser, director of academic affairs; and Mr. Michael Casey, director of finance and operations. From Institutes of Technology Ireland I welcome Mr. Jim Murray, chief executive officer; and Dr. Maria Hinfelaar, chairman. I also welcome Professor Paul D. Ryan, emeritus professor of geology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Finally, I welcome the representatives of the Migrant Rights Centre: Ms Helen Lowry, community work co-ordinator; and Ms Tatiana Bezborodova.

This meeting is the second in our series on third level reform. Copies of the submissions by the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority to the first meeting have been circulated to members.

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 as 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. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or 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. Ned Costello to make his presentation. I ask that the presentations be kept to a maximum of four to five minutes each to allow us get through all the presentations and have time for questions.