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

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, president of the University of Galway who is representing Universities Ireland, Mr. Lewis Purser, director of learning, teacher and academic affairs, Irish Universities Association and Mr. Paul Hannigan, head of college, Atlantic Technological University, ATU, who is representing the Technological Higher Education Association, THEA. The witnesses are before the committee today to discuss North-South student mobility. Apologies were received from Ms Patricia O'Sullivan, of the Higher Education Colleges Association, HECA, who is unable to attend on medical grounds. On the behalf of the committee, I wish Ms O'Sullivan a speedy recovery. The CAO was invited to attend but declined the invitation. The CAO has offered to assist the committee by providing statistical data to the joint committee, if requested.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite the witnesses to make their opening statements in the following order: Professor Ó hÓgartaigh, Mr. Purser and Mr. Hannigan. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a six-minute slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting.

Before we begin, I wish to 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 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 a person or entity. Therefore, if a witness's statement is potentially defamatory to an identifiable person or entity, he or she will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks and it is imperative that he or she comply with any such direction.

I now invite Professor Ó hÓgartaigh to make his opening statement, followed by the other witnesses as outlined, each of whom has five minutes.