Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Paul Kehoe, and from Deputies Mairéad Farrell and Sorca Clarke. I ask members to turn off their mobile phones. This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate - Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which was referred to this committee by the Dáil. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, and his officials and thank them for the briefing document. I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.