Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee at the start of session 2 I welcome Mr. Frank Jones, general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, who is also representing the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU; and Mr. Colm Kelly, general secretary of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, TUI.

The University College Union, UCU; the Union of Students of Ireland, USI; the National Union of Students, NUS; the Union of Students of Ireland, USI; and SIPTU were invited to appear before the committee today but none was able to attend due to other business. The NUS sent a written submission to which the USI contributed and it will be uploaded to the Oireachtas website.

I welcome Mr. Eoin Griffin, assistant general secretary of the TUI who is in the Public Gallery. The witnesses have been invited to discuss North-South enrolment in tertiary education. The form of the meeting is that I will invite both witnesses to make brief opening statements in the following order. Mr. Jones will speak first and then Mr. Kelly. The statements will be followed by questions from members of the committee who each have a five minute slot. As the witnesses are likely aware, we will publish their opening statements on the website following today’s meeting.

I have already reminded members of the long-standing parliamentary practice with respect to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by the chair to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative to comply with such direction.