Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, and her officials. The Minister is before the committee to discuss: the Cork Life Centre and the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision report; progress made in implementing the recommendations in the joint committee reports entitled, School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health, and Leaving Certificate Reform: The need for a new Senior Cycle; teaching provision to include teacher shortages, Teaching Council registration, teacher diversity and primary teachers' fluency in Irish; and proposals to expand the physical and digital library services in schools.

The format will be that I will invite the Minister to make a brief opening statement which will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a six-minute slot to ask questions and for the Minister to respond. As the Minister is probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following the meeting. I want to 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.