Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to remind Members and witnesses to please an féidir libh bhur teileafóin a mhúchadh. Turn off your telephones or switch them to flight mode. Any statement you make might not be audible on the television, and we would hate for that to happen. Mobile phones interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for parliamentary reporters, who work so hard to report the meeting. Television coverage and web streaming is also very badly affected.

Today's meeting takes place so that the joint committee can continue its scrutiny of two pieces of legislation - the Education (Amendment) Bill 2015 and pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016.

Ar son an choiste, ba bhreá liom fáilte a chur roimh gach duine de na finnéithe atá ag an gcruinniú inniu. The Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, is represented by Mr. John Boyle and Ms Anne McElduff. The Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, is represented by its president, Ms Joanne Irwin, and by Mr. David Duffy and Mr. John MacGabhann. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, is represented by its president, Mr. Ed Byrne; its general secretary, Mr. Kieran Christie, and Ms Moira Leyden. The Irish Second-Level Students Union is represented by Ms Jane Hayes-Nally, some of whose colleagues are in the Visitors Gallery. The National Parents Council Post Primary is represented byMr. Paul Beddy and Mr. Paul Rolston.

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 the Chairman or me 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 any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any submission or opening statement made to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting. We are very grateful for the work the delegates have put in to prepare for this meeting and thank them for attending.

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.

I invite the various speakers to make their opening statements, beginning with Ms Leyden on behalf of the ASTI. Ms Irwin will speak on behalf of TUI, Ms Jane Hayes-Nally on behalf of the Irish Second-Level Students Union, Mr. Rolston on behalf of the National Parents Council Post Primary and Mr. John Boyle ar son INTO.