Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to welcome from Marketing English in Ireland, MEI, Mr. Lorcan O'Connor Lloyd, chief executive officer; Mr. Mauro Biondi, chair of the MEI board of directors; and Mr. Aidan O’Shea, MEI director and chair of MEI’s quality assurance committee. I welcome also Ms Laura Harmon, executive director of the Irish Council for International Students, ICOS, and Mr. Brian Hearne, policy and communications manager at ICOS. The witnesses are here today in the committee's second session to discuss the need for greater regulation and oversight of the English language education sector.

I will invite Mr. O'Connor Lloyd and Ms Harmon to make a brief opening statement. This will be followed by questions from the committee members. Each member has a five-minute slot. The committee will publish the opening statements on the Oireachtas website following today's meeting.

Before we begin I remind witnesses 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 the person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witnesses will be directed by the Chair to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative the witnesses would comply with any such direction.

I invite Mr. O'Connor Lloyd, who has five minutes, followed by Ms Harmon.