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

We move on to our meeting with Mr. Eamonn Stack, who is chairman designate of the National Council for Special Education. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss with Mr. Stack the approach he will take in his new role, as well as his views on the challenges facing the council. Members will be aware of the Government decision of May 2011 which puts new arrangements in place for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. The committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairperson designate in public to hear his views. We trust that this provides greater transparency to the process of appointment to our State boards and bodies.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Stack. Officials are accompanying him, although they are not formal witnesses. They are Mr. Jim Mulkerrins, principal officer, Department of Education and Skills, and Ms Teresa Griffin, CEO of the National Council for Special Education. I draw to the attention of Mr. Stack that 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 in relation to a particular matter and continue to do so, they are only covered by qualified privilege. They 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.

Members are asked to remember the long-standing practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

After the meeting, Mr. Stack's opening statement will be published on the committee's website. I invite Mr. Stack to make his remarks.