Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I have received apologies from Senators Joan Freeman and Lorraine Clifford-Lee. I remind members of the committee and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones, please, as they interfere with the sound system, making it difficult for the reporters to report the meeting and adversely affecting television coverage and web streaming.

I welcome everyone to the meeting. We will begin in public session and hear from witnesses on the issue of the weight of schoolbags. The committee secretariat has circulated briefing materials which I hope the members found useful in providing background. We will then move into private session at the end of this meeting to deal with some procedural issues.