Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will continue our discussion on issues relating to third-level education. In the sessions this morning, we met representatives from the Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Grangegorman Development Agency to discuss their financial statements. In this session, we will deal with the financial statements of the National University of Ireland Galway. From there, we are joined by Dr. James Browne, president, Mr. Gearóid Ó Conluain, an runaí, Ms Mary Dooley, bursar, and Mr. Keith Warnock, capital projects adviser. From the Department of Education and Skills we are joined by Mr. Christy Mannion and from the Higher Education Authority by Dr. Graham Love, Mr. Damien Kilgannon and Ms Jennifer Gygax.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery to please turn off their mobile phones. I wish to advise 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. 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 that 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I will call first on Ms Drinan from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to make a brief opening statement.