Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have apologies from Senator Ruane. We have an important and special meeting today, probably our most important meeting of the year. It is our last meeting too, so that is good. The agenda item for consideration today is engagement with the students from Carlow Educate Together regarding young people and our built environment.

At this session, we are joined by Mr. Mark O'Brien and students from Carlow Educate Together. We are delighted to have them here and are glad they could be here. Deputy Murnane O'Connor and I attended a presentation earlier this year on the same topic. We thought it would be great to get our guests before the committee to hear their views.

I must go through the normal housekeeping matters I address before all the committee's meetings. I advise anybody partaking of the meeting via MS Teams that the chat function is only to be used to make us aware of any technical issues and should not be used to make any general comments or statements. I remind members of the advice on parliamentary privilege. In advance of inviting our guests to deliver their opening statements, I wish to advise of the following in respect of parliamentary privilege. For witnesses who are participating from the committee room, they are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. I do not think that issue will arise today.

We have five minutes' speaking time for our guests, followed by questions and answers with the committee members. I believe we have a number of contributors. We will start with Mr. Mark O'Brien, who will be followed by Ms Zena Deyassa, Ms Heidi Dowling, Mr. Aidan Gammell, Ms Dulcie Corbett and Ms Grace Kavanagh. I remind members that we are going to try to stick to this agenda item for today's discussion.