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

Is é cuspóir na coda seo den chruinniú ná plé a dhéanamh leis an Uasal Dónal Ó hAiniféin sula ndéanfar é a cheapadh ina chathaoirleach ar an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Tugtar deis don choiste labhairt leis an Uasal Ó hAiniféin faoin bhfís atá aige, faoi na tosaíochtaí meántéarmacha agus fadtéarmacha atá aige, agus faoi na dúshláin atá le sárú ag an bhforas.

Thar cheann an choiste, cuirim fáilte roimh an Uasal Dónal Ó hAiniféin, cathaoirleach ainmnithe. Is mar a leanas a leagtar amach an chuid seo den chruinniú. Iarrfaidh mé ar an Uasal Ó hAiniféin ráiteas oscailte gairid a dhéanamh ar feadh trí nóiméid agus déanfar plé le baill an choiste ansin. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Dónal Ó hAiniféin, chairman designate of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. I will invite Mr. Ó hAiniféin to make a brief opening statement of a maximum of three minutes, which will be followed by engagement with members of the committee.

Before we begin, I wish to bring to Mr. Ó hAiniféin's attention 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 committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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. I also wish to advise Mr. Ó hAiniféin that any opening statement he makes to the committee will be published on the committee website after this 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 ask Mr. Ó hAiniféin to make his opening statement.