Dr. Lynn Ramsey:

I thank the Cathaoirleach. The particular question he posed is a very interesting one and one we are very much live to. We have a focus in our current strategic plan that is concerned with diversifying the teaching profession in Ireland. We are at a good stage in terms of commencing our work. We have gone for a tender process and we have commissioned an external company that is very experienced in this area to work with us. In so doing, we are mindful of the work that has been done and is already in the system, such as the Higher Education Authority data, for example, that profiles all these different demographic characteristics the Cathaoirleach was talking about in terms of the undergraduate teaching population. We are also mindful of the work that the HEIs have done in terms of Athena Swan and under the programme for access to higher education, PATH, 1. Our deputy director, Ms Phil Fox, is leading for us on that work on equality, diversity and inclusion for the Teaching Council. I ask her to talk the committee through where we are now with this undertaking.