Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are joined today by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, and Mr. Shane Carton, deputy director of audit. Apologies have been received from Deputies O'Connell and Catherine Murphy. We will deal with the business of the committee in the afternoon as we want to deal with the Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology this morning.

As I mentioned, we are dealing with the financial statements for 2016 for the Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology. Today we are returning to matters in the third level sector on which we reported in July last year. We are joined today from Higher Education Authority, HEA, by Dr. Graham Love, chief executive, as well as Ms Sheena Duffy, Mr. Stewart Roche, Mr. Tim Conlon and Mr. Neil McDermott. From the Department we have Mr. William Beausang, assistant secretary, and Mr. Tony Gaynor. From University College Cork, UCC, we are joined by Professor Patrick O’Shea, president, and by Mr. Diarmuid Collins and Mr. Cormac McSweeney. From Cork Institute of Technology we are joined by Dr. Barry O'Connor, president, and Mr. Paul Gallagher, Mr. John A. McCarthy, Ms Ellen Crowley and Mr. Jim O’Byrne. They are all very welcome to today's meeting.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off or into aeroplane mode, as putting them on silent mode is not adequate and they will still interfere with the recording system in the Oireachtas. I wish to advise the witnesses 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of the 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 persons or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Orders that the committee shall also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. While we expect witnesses to answer questions put by the committee clearly and with candour, witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol. We will first take a short opening statement from the Comptroller and Auditor General.