Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received. The meeting has been convened to consider the 2020 Supplementary Estimate for Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which was referred to the committee by Dáil Éireann.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Niall Collins, and his official to the meeting this afternoon. My thanks to the Minister of State, his officials and the Department for the briefing documentation they have provided to the meeting. As the Minister of State is present, the official should refrain from speaking in public session.

I will now ask the Minister of State to make his opening statement. Members can ask general questions on Vote 45. The first questioner up is Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh. We will hear first the opening statement from the Minister of State.