Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are meeting with the Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Niall Collins. The purpose of this session is to consider the motion relating to the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) Order 2021, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 11 June 2021. The format of the meeting is that I will invite the Minister of State to make a brief opening statement. I understand that the members of the committee will defer their questions until the next segment of the meeting. Therefore, I have no issue if he goes over his three minutes. As he will probably 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

This portion of the meeting is solely to legislate for the date of the commencement of the technological university of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, TUS, and is essentially a technical motion. I call the Minister of State to make his opening statement.