Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl do na baill, do na hoifigigh agus dóibh siúd atá sa Ghailearaí gur chóir dóibh cinntiú go bhfuil a ngutháin soghluaiste múchtha ar feadh an chruinnithe seo mar chuireann siad isteach ar an bhfearas craolacháin, fiú nuair atá siad ar an modh ciúin. This meeting has been convened to consider the Revised Estimate for Vote 26 for the Department of Education and Skills which was referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann in pursuance of its constitutional function to consider the Estimates. I thank the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and his officials for coming. I also thank the Department for the briefing document it provided. As the Minister is present, the officials will speak to him privately but not in public session.

The committee has agreed to proceed programme by programme and that we will focus on one programme at any one time. The Minister will be invited to speak briefly on each one. I will then open the floor to members to ask questions. Most of the information will probably be elicited then.