Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are back in session for two hours, hopefully. I welcome our witnesses joining us from committee room 2 to review the preparations for the reopening of our schools and how the reopening is operating in practice: Ms Lorraine Dempsey and Mr. Mark O'Connor, Inclusion Ireland; Ms Áine Lynch, chief executive officer, CEO, and Ms Clare Downey, manager of early years services, National Parents Council Primary; and Ms Mai Fanning and Mr. Paul Rolston, National Parents Council Post Primary. All the witnesses have been before the committee previously, so I will not reread the provisions of the Defamation Act 2009, as they will be aware that if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in a particular matter, they must respect that direction.

I ask Mr. O'Connor to make his opening statement and to limit it to five minutes.