Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this part of the meeting is to resume our engagement with a number of different stakeholders in terms of the apparent shortage of substitute teachers throughout the State and issues related to the recruitment and retention of teachers.

On behalf of the committee I welcome Ms Joanne Irwin, president, Teachers' Union of Ireland; Mr. John Irwin, general secretary, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools; Fr. Paul Connell, president, Joint Managerial Body and Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools; Dr. Seán Rowland, president, Hibernia College; and Dr. Anne Looney, executive dean, and Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir, deputy dean, Institute of Education, Dublin City University - St. Patrick's Campus.

The format of this part of the meeting is that I will invite the delegates to make a brief opening statement which should be no longer than three minutes. I am prepared to give some latitude, but a conversation with members and answering their questions can be better. The opening statements will be followed by engagement with members. Apologies have been received from Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin who is unable to be present, like a number of other members of the committee. There is actually a long list of members who cannot be here, for which I apologise. Some of them are not in the building today.

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. I also advise that any opening statement made 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 thank all of the representatiives of the organisations before us for the time and effort they are putting into the meeting. It takes considerable work to prepare for and attend these meetings. I call Ms Irwin to make the first opening statement on behalf of the Teachers' Union of Ireland.