Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Harold Hislop, chief inspector at the Department of Education; Mr. Dalton Tattan, assistant secretary general at the Department of Education; and Ms Andrea Feeney, CEO-designate of the State Examinations Commission and former director of the calculated grades executive office at the Department of Education.

I will shortly ask Mr. Tattan to brief the committee on the 2020 leaving certificate calculated grades, specifically on the calculated grades process; measures that are in place to review the process and to indemnify students who were wrongly graded; as well as on preparations for the 2021 leaving certificate. The format of the meeting is that I will invite Mr. Tattan to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Witnesses are probably aware that the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following the meeting.

Before we begin, I want to remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I would like the officials to note that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their presentations to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chairman to ensure that this privilege is not abused. If their statements, therefore, are potentially defamatory in regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I ask members to switch off their mobile phones. I ask Mr. Tattan to make his opening statement and I will cut him off after six minutes because we want to finish the meeting swiftly at 3.25 p.m. as members have to be in the Convention Centre for 4.00 p.m.