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

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise that the opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting. 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 a way as to make him or her identifiable.

This hearing on a draft general scheme of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013 follows its publication. The Bill will apply to all 4,000 primary and post-primary schools and the proposed regulations aim to underpin a fair, consistent and transparent enrolment process that precludes school places from being allocated on the basis of waiting lists and prevents schools from seeking deposits or payments as part of the admission process. The draft general scheme and the draft regulations were referred to the committee for consideration and we undertook a process of general consultation on the general scheme which resulted in a large number of submissions that now are under consideration. Overall, approximately 50 submissions were received. The hearings give groups an opportunity to present the key points of their submissions to the committee. In accordance with the notice issued seeking submissions, the criteria used were that those people who had sought to make a presentation were invited to attend and those who had not were not.

This is the first of three hearings. I welcome from the Department of Education and Skills Mr. Martin Hanevy, assistant secretary, and Mr. Hubert Loftus, principal officer; from the National Parents Council Ms Áine Lynch, chief executive officer; from the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education Ms Breda Corr, general secretary; from Education and Training Boards Ireland Mr. Evan Buckley, education officer; from the Church of Ireland Board of Education Dr. Ken Fennelly; from the National Council for Special Education Ms Teresa Griffin, chief executive officer; from the INTO Ms Deirdre O'Connor, a senior official; and from the Irish Traveller Movement Ms Brigid Quilligan, director. The format is that each group will have an opportunity to make a presentation, with only one speaker per group. The presentation will strictly be for no more than five minutes to allow time for questions from the committee. I will begin with the Department of Education and Skills and invite Mr. Hanevy to make his opening statement.