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

I remind witnesses and members to turn off their mobile phones, please, or switch them to flight mode. Mobile phones interfere with the sound system, make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting and can also adversely affect the television coverage and web streaming.

We turn now to engagement with stakeholders on the barriers to education facing vulnerable groups. In advance of our discussion I wish to explain to witnesses that there are a number of other committee meetings and debates happening in the Houses that members will need to attend. I hope it will not interfere too much with the statements to be made. Everyone will also have the opportunity to watch this meeting on video afterwards if they need to catch up.

On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Wayne Dignam, chairman of the Care Leavers Network Ireland. I also acknowledge Mr. Shane Griffin, advocacy manager of the Care Leavers Network Ireland who is in the Public Gallery. I also welcome Ms Ann Heelan, executive director of the Association for Higher Education Access & Disability, AHEAD; Mr. Patrick Nevin, co-ordinator of the Tallaght Traveller Community Development Project; Ms Valerie Maher, policy manager with One Family; Mr. Andreas Mokake, integration co-ordinator with Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative, SPIRASI; Ms Niamh Randall, head of policy and communications with the Simon Communities Ireland; Professor Kathleen Lynch from the school of education in UCD; Mr. Shane Rooney, chairman of the Adult Educational Guidance Association of Ireland, AEGAI; and Mr. Richard Dolan, principal officer in the Department of Education and Skills.

I will invite each witness to make a brief opening statement of a maximum of three minutes. Their presentations will be followed by engagement with members of the committee.

I draw the witnesses' attention 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 do so, 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. Any opening statement they make to the committee will be published on our 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 Mr. Dignam to make his opening statement,