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

All mobile phones should be switched off as we know they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms even if they are in silent mode. Apologies have been received from Deputy Tony McLoughlin but I understand he will join us at a later stage when Deputy Madigan leaves to attend another meeting.

This meeting has been convened to consider Committee Stage of the Technological Universities Bill 2015. The Bill provides for the merger of institutes of technology and for the process of merged institutes to apply for designation as a technological university. The Bill was introduced in 2015. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, who has special responsibility for higher education and her officials to this meeting. I understand she will make an opening statement.