Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Members and witnesses are requested to use the mute buttons on their devices when necessary. I am joined by the clerk and assistant clerk. I remind members and witnesses to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment even when in silent mode. I refer to all meetings held from 30 September 2020 to 11 January 2021, inclusive, which were previously agreed in private session. Are they agreed in public session? Agreed.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome: Dr. Joseph Ryan, CEO of the Technological Higher Education Association, THEA; Professor Vincent Cunnane, president of Limerick Institute of Technology and chair of THEA; Mr. Paul Hannigan, president of Letterkenny Institute of Technology; Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, who I know very well and who is president of Institute of Technology Carlow and deputy chair of THEA; and Professor Maggie Cusack, president of Munster Technological University, MTU. Our witnesses are here to discuss the future expansion of the technological universities. I will invite Dr. Ryan to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by questions from members. Each member will have a six-minute slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. I will ask the relevant member and witness to conclude after six minutes. I accept that this is more difficult to do while we are on Microsoft Teams. As the witnesses are probably 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 Houses of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. The witnesses are giving evidence remotely from a place outside the precincts of Leinster House and as such may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present. Witnesses have already been advised of that and they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by myself to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with this direction. I call on Dr. Joseph Ryan to make his opening statement.