Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today we will have two sessions, the first of which begins now. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, president of Universities Ireland, Mr. Paul Hannigan, head of college at the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, representing the Technological Higher Education Association, THEA, and Mr. Lewis Purser, director of teaching, learning and academic affairs at the Irish Universities Association, IUA. Our guests are here to discuss North-South enrolment in tertiary education, a topic on which Deputy Conway-Walsh has done a lot of work. The Higher Education Colleges Association, HECA, was invited to attend but declined due to other important business.

I also welcome from the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Education, Ms Aoibhinn Treanor, committee clerk, Mr. Mark McQuade, assistant committee clerk, Mr. Jim Nulty, clerical supervisor, and Mr. Joshua Devlin, clerical officer, all of whom are in the Public Gallery. You are all very welcome. I know you will be meeting our committee secretariat and members later on for further deliberations and lunch.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite the witnesses to make a brief opening statement, in the following order: Professor Ó hÓgartaigh, Mr. Hannigan, and Mr. Purser. This will be followed by contributions and questions from members of the committee, who will have five minutes each. As the witnesses may be aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on our website.

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.

Witnesses 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 or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by the Chair to discontinue their comments. It is imperative that they comply with such direction from the Chair.

I invite Professor Ó hÓgartaigh to begin his opening statement. Each witness has five minutes to make their opening statements and we this will be followed by questions from committee members.