Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As the Chair is delayed, I will stand in for him until he arrives. I welcome from the Department of Education, Mr. Gavan O'Leary, assistant secretary, Mr. Tom Whelan, principal officer in the finance unit, Dr. Paul Alexander, senior statistician in the statistics unit, Ms Valerie Kirwan, principal officer with responsibility for finance in the planning and building unit, Ms Anne Murray, principal officer in the public service reform programme office, and Mr. Pádraig Mac Fhlannchadha, assistant chief inspector. The officials are here to brief us on the public service progress report and the public service performance indicators for the Department of Education.

I will invite Mr. O'Leary to make a brief opening statement of five minutes which will be followed by questions from members. Each member has a six-minute slot in which to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. The committee will publish the opening statement on its website following the 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 now ask Mr. O'Leary to make his opening statement.