Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to our first session today. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Máirín Ní Chéileachair, director of education, research and learning at the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, Ms Sarah Behan, vice president for welfare at the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, Mr. Frank Jones, general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, Mr. David Duffy, education and research officer with the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, Ms Angelica Foley, welfare officer at the Irish Secondary Schools Union, ISSU, Mr. Gary Honer, industrial relations officer with Fórsa, and Ms Moira Leyden, assistant general secretary of the Association of Secondary School Teachers in Ireland, ASTI. The trade union officials are with us to discuss mental health supports in schools and tertiary education. I will invite our guests to make a brief opening statements in the following order: Ms Ní Chéileachair, Ms Behan, Mr. Jones, Mr. Duffy, Ms Foley, Mr. Honer and Ms Leyden. I also welcome Ms Noreen O'Mahoney, chair of the Fórsa education division, Ms Joan McCrohan, Fórsa organiser, Ms Liz Farrell, president of the TUI, Ms Sarah Hughes, USI mental health project manager, Ms Martina Genockey, public relations and communications manager with USI and Mr. Conor McDonald, executive officer with ASTI, who are in the public gallery. The opening statements will be followed by questions from the members of the committee. Each member has a total of five minutes to pose questions and get responses from the witnesses. The committee will publish the opening statements on its web page following today's 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 House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. The union officials are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. If their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite Ms Ní Chéileachair to begin and ask all of our guests to be brief as possible with their opening statements so that committee members will have as much time as possible to interact with them.