Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to engage with the chairperson designate of the Educational Research Centre and to discuss the approach he proposes to take if and when appointed to the role and his views on the challenges facing that body. Members are aware of the Government decision of May 2011, which put arrangements in place for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. Reference to this arrangement is also made in the November 2014 Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on appointments to State boards. The 2016 programme for Government suggests that nominees for chairs of State boards will be required to have their nominations ratified by the relevant Oireachtas committee prior to their appointment. This committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairperson designate in public session to hear his views and we trust that this will provide greater transparency to the process of appointment by our State boards and bodies. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Pauric Travers.

I wish to draw Dr. Travers's attention to the fact 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 Dr. Travers is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and he continues to so do, he is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. The witness is directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and he is asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, he 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 also advise the witness that any submission or opening statements he has made to the committee will be published on the committee website this afternoon.

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 House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.