Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received. I remind members and officials to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting because they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when in silent mode.

This meeting has been convened to allow us to resume our consideration of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically president within the confines of Leinster House in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to that constitutional requirement. Any member who intends to participate from outside the precincts is asked to leave the meeting. Should a vote be called, members must be physically present in the committee room in order to vote.

I welcome the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and his officials. We will now proceed with our consideration of the Bill.