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

I warmly welcome our distinguished guests. We have in attendance our youngest stakeholder yet, Ms Jane Hayes-Nally, who is very welcome. We are delighted to have the input of second level students. I welcome Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, chairman of the governing authority at NUI Galway, Professor John Hegarty from the Royal Irish Academy, Dr. Catherine Day, chairman of the governing authority of University College Cork, and Ms Annie Hoey, president of the Union of Students in Ireland, some of whose members I had the opportunity to meet the day before yesterday in Buswells Hotel when they were making a presentation. I also welcome Mr. Kieran McNulty, president of Trinity College Dublin Students Union. We had the pleasure of meeting and discussing this subject briefly during the summer. Ms Jane Hayes-Nally is president of the Irish Second-Level Students Union. The witnesses are here to discuss the findings of the Cassells report, Investing in National Ambition: A Strategy for Funding Higher Education. I acknowledge again the excellent work of Mr. Peter Cassells, his secretariat and all the members in bringing this piece of work before us. This is the third day on which we have had the opportunity to have witnesses in to discuss the various options and the potential impact on those they represent.

I wish to 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 Chairman 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 advise witnesses that any submissions or opening statements they make to the committee today will be published on the committee's website following this meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should 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.

I call Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness to make her opening statement. We will take three witnesses at a time and then revert to the members for comments and questions. We shall then take the second three.