Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Nos. 462B (i) to (v) is correspondence dated 3 May 2017 from Dr. Graham Love, chief executive officer of the Higher Education Authority providing follow-up information. We will deal with that on 25 May but we will note and publish all that in the meantime.

No. 464B is correspondence dated 8 May 2017 from Bord na gCon in respect to incidents outside this committee room in which there were three situations in which witnesses were intimidated or abused by visitors in the Gallery, despite the fact that Deputy Kelly, who was in the Chair, issued a warning to the visitors. The clerk to the committee also had to ask visitors he saw surrounding a witness at the end of the meeting outside the committee room to desist. Members who request passes for visitors are responsible for their conduct. That is a long-established practice. I propose to bring this matter to the attention of the Captain of the Guard to make him aware of the incidents. While I will not suggest that we close the Visitors Gallery, we have to be careful and fair to witnesses.