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

I welcome Mr. Pierce Connolly, chairman of Wake Up SUSI and president of Griffith College students' union and Ms Alisha Houlihan and Ms Suzanne Quinn, students, Griffith College; Ms Emma O'Sullivan president, Dublin Business School Students' Union and Mr. James Roberts, student; and Mr. Martin Byrne, student, Irish Colleges of Humanities and Applied Sciences, Limerick, who are here today to discuss the non-payment of maintenance grants to students attending private higher education colleges. I also welcome the students in the Visitors Gallery.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses 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 the 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. I also wish to advise the witnesses that their opening statements will be published on the committee's 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now invite Ms Alisha Houlihan to make her opening statement. I understand that following her statement, the other students will make a one-minute statement each. Members will have an opportunity after that to ask questions.