Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to please ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting because they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. Are the minutes of the meeting on 24 January 2024 agreed? Agreed.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome: Mr. Bryan O’Mahony, deputy president of the Union of Students in Ireland; Mr. Shari Irfan, president of the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU; and Ms Izzy Fitzpatrick, president of the Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland. The witnesses are here to discuss North-South student mobility. I welcome the guests in the Public Gallery, who are also union members. I hope they enjoy their time in the Houses of the Oireachtas today and find it beneficial.

The format of the meeting will be as follows. I will invite the witnesses to make their opening statements in the following order: Mr. O’Mahony first; Mr. Irfan second; and Ms Fitzpatrick third. This will be followed by questions from the committee members. Each member has a six-minute slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statements 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. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges 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 your statement is potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, you will be directed to discontinue your remarks and it is imperative that you comply with such a direction. I now ask Mr. O'Mahony to make his opening statement, followed by the order of witnesses as outlined a few minutes ago. You have five minutes each.