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

We are now in public session. I remind members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode because they interfere with the sound system and make it very difficult for parliamentary reporters; people who are listening in or web streaming would be adversely affected also.

No. 7 on the agenda is engagement with the Minister for Education and Skills to consider the motion on the Universities Act 1997 (section 54(3)) (University Authorisation) Order 2019. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for Higher Education, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor to the meeting. The Minister is accompanied by officials but, procedurally, they are not witnesses so will not be able to address the meeting.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite the Minister to make a brief opening statement, which will then be followed by engagement with members of the committee. As the Minister will be aware the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following the meeting. Before we begin, I remind Members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

It is an exciting day for the the RCSI; we are setting a precedent here at this committee meeting where, following the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019, this is the first time that the legal process can be enacted where an education provider that is not financially supported by the State may seek university status. As members of the committee will know, for almost 250 years, the RCSI has played a very key role in Irish surgical and medical education and it is internationally recognised, with students coming from over 40 countries studying many different disciplines in the health and medical matters. It is a very good day for them, we would hope.

I call on the Minister to make her opening statement.