Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee I welcome from the Department of Education, Ms Aoife Conduit, assistant secretary, Mr. Brian Power, principal officer, and Mr. Hugh Geoghegan, assistant principal officer. The officials are present as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the education (supports for survivors of residential institutional abuse) Bill 2023. The format of the meeting will be that I will invite Ms Conduit to make a brief opening statement. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member will have a specific slot for questions and a response form the officials. As the officials are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on its website 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. 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. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by the Chair to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite Ms Conduit to make her opening statement.