Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome: from the Department of Education and Skills, Mr. Peter Baldwin, assistant secretary, and Ms Deirdre McDonnell, principal officer with the higher education section; from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. William Parnell, principal officer with the skills and education unit, and Mr. Gerry Wrynn, assistant principal officer with the North-South unit; from the Northern Ireland Department of Education, Dr. David Hughes, director of curriculum, qualifications and standards; and from the Northern Ireland Department of Employment and Learning, Ms Yvonne Croskery, director of the youth policy and strategy division. These officials are here to brief us on cross-Border opportunities to prevent youth unemployment through education and training, and to promote job creation.

I wish to acknowledge that this is the first Northern Ireland civil servants have come before this committee in a round table discussion with civil servants from the Republic on an issue that is fundamentally important throughout the island. I thank everybody for coming here today,

At our next session, Mr. John McAllister MLA, who is an independent Unionist, will appear before the committee at his own request. I am delighted that he has made the journey in the physical sense and in recognising this Parliament and our support and interest in Northern Ireland. This is a very special day for the committee and that gives hope and optimism to all of us who have high aspirations for the future of this island, North and South.

Before inviting our guests to make their presentations, I advise them of the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. As public servants, I think they full understand that. That advice should be directed more at politicians but I thank the witnesses very much.

The clerk to the committee sent the officials a copy of the recent British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly report on preventing youth unemployment through education and training, purely for information purposes. It is not intended that this discussion will be based entirely on the report.

I will now ask Mr. Baldwin to make his opening statement. He will be followed by Mr. Parnell, Dr. Hughes and Ms Croskery. Members can then ask questions. Mr. Baldwin, the floor is yours.