Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee, and particularly Ms Cousins for coming down. I am conscious that it is difficult for civil servants in circumstances where they do not have ministerial direction at present. Ms Cousins mentioned that in the final paragraph of her statement and we are very aware of that. I want to start by asking her some questions. In respect of higher education she mentioned that there was a decline in Republic of Ireland student enrolments in Northern Ireland, but there has been a bit of a reversal since Brexit. Is that in any way linked to a decline in the number of students from outside the UK and Ireland coming to Northern Irish universities any more because of Brexit?