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

I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode, as they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the proceedings of the meeting. Television coverage and web streaming are also adversely affected.

I welcome the stakeholders and thank them for their patience while we dealt with some issues in private session. Today's topic is the apparent shortage of substitute teachers throughout the State and issues related to recruitment and retention which are important in the functioning of the top class education system which the country aspires to have. I highlight my use of the word "apparent". The issue of the shortage of substitute teachers was raised with the joint committee last November by Ms Margaret Conlon and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, CPSMA. Prior to these items of correspondence and apart from anecdotal evidence, the committee had had no formal communication on this matter and not undertaken a study of this topic. We decided to list it as a matter of priority in our work programme for 2018 and schedule a meeting with stakeholders as early as possible. The purpose of the meeting is to establish from the stakeholders the level of any shortage and whether it is ongoing or temporary. Therefore, the use of the word "apparent" is to indicate to all participants that the committee is approaching the meeting with an open mind and has not prejudged the outcome prior to hearing from the stakeholders. Had the meeting been about the topic of "the shortage of substitute teachers", it could have been suggested the committee had already found through research that there was a shortage, rendering the meeting unnecessary. Sometimes, as in this case, the use of certain terminology can be misinterpreted unintentionally, but the use of the word "apparent" was necessary. I hope I have clarified the matter, but I will be happy to include a note on it.

We have received a number of written submissions from other bodies. They will be included in our consideration of our report. We will hold a second public hearing on the issue, to which we will invite other interested and relevant stakeholders.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Ger Curtin, president of the ASTI; Ms Deirdre O'Connor, assistant general secretary of the INTO; Mr. Paul Byrne, past president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD; Mr. Páiric Clerkin, CEO of the Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN; Mr. Seamus Mulconry, general secretary of the CPSMA; Ms Breda Corr, general secretary of the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, NABMSE; Mr. Dónal Ó hAiniféin, cathaoirleach of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG; Mr. Tomás Ó Ruairc, director of the Teaching Council; and Ms Joan Russell, director of school support services in Education and Training Boards Ireland, ETBI.

We have received numerous requests from many of the participating organisations to include second speakers. As a committee, we decided at our previous meeting to limit every organisation to one delegate. The delegations will understand why. It is important that every organisation and stakeholder have an opportunity to make its opinions known. Time is important. If we want to issue an efficient and timely report, we need to be able to maximise use of the time available to us. I will invite each delegate to make a brief opening statement of a maximum of three minutes duration, which will be followed by engagement with members.

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 Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

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 call on Mr. Curtin to make his opening statement.