Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. Are the minutes of the meeting of 28 March agreed? Agreed.

Before I proceed - I should have done this in private session - I welcome the new Sinn Féin spokespersons, Deputy Sorca Clarke, spokesperson on education, and Deputy Mairéad Farrell, spokesperson on higher education, both of whom will be nominated as members of the committee. I thank Deputies Rose Conway-Walsh and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire for their input to the committee over recent years. They were two very good members of the committee.

We will have two sessions today. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Cornelia Connolly, associate professor at the school of education, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, University of Galway; Dr. Ann Marcus-Quinn, lecturer in technical communication and instructional design, University of Limerick; Professor Sarah McCormack, professor in energy engineering, department of civil, structural and environmental engineering, Trinity College Dublin; Professor Hamsa Venkat, professor of STEM education for primary and early childhood education, Institute of Education, Dublin City University, DCU; Dr. Margaret Leahy, head of the school of STEM education, innovation and global studies, Institute of Education, DCU; and Dr. Áine Hyland, emeritus professor of education, University College Cork, UCC.

The witnesses are here to discuss the future of STEM in Irish education. The format of the meeting is that I will invite the witnesses to make brief opening statements in the following order: Dr. Connolly, Dr. Marcus-Quinn, Professor McCormack, Professor Venkat, Dr. Leahy and Professor Hyland. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a five-minute slot, given the time constraints because we have two sessions, and that is to ask their questions and for the witnesses to respond. The committee will publish the opening statements on its website following today's meeting.

I 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. 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, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by me, as Chair, to discontinue their remarks, and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Dr. Connolly, you may begin, and the other witnesses will follow. The witnesses have five minutes each.