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

We are now in public session. I remind members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones because they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting. They can also adversely affect the web streaming.

I welcome the witnesses to the meeting. We have had a number of them before us previously on other topics of interest to all of us. This is the third meeting that we have had on the Education (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the general scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The purpose of our meeting today is to continue the scrutiny of these two pieces of legislation. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following witnesses to today’s meeting: Mr. Caoimhín Ó hEaghra from An Foras Pátrúnachta, who will be pleased to know that we have full translation services today; Ms Antoinette Nic Gearailt and Ms Eileen Salmon from the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools; Ms Breda Corr from the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education; Mr. John Curtis and Fr. Paul Connell from the Joint Managerial Body/Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools; Mr. Seamus Mulconry and Ms Sinéad Brett from the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association; Mr. Michael Moriarty and Ms Joan Russell from Education and Training Boards Ireland; Mr. Shaheen Ahmed and Ms Asiya Al-Tawash from the Muslim Primary Education Board; Mr. Paul Rowe from Educate Together; and Dr. Ken Fennelly from the General Synod Board of Education of the Church of Ireland.

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 Chair 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 wish to advise the witnesses that their opening statements and submissions to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. I remind members of the same practice.

I thank all of the witnesses for the written submissions they have made, which have been circulated to all of the members. I would like to remind them that we only really want a short opening statement of between three and five minutes. We will take a statement from each organisation and then we will give the opportunity to the members to put any questions they have. I call first on Mr. Caoimhín Ó hEaghra.