Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, director, the National Apprenticeship Office; Mr. Andrew Brownlee, CEO, SOLAS; Dr. Peter Cullen, head of research and innovation, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI; Dr. Vivienne Patterson, head of skills, engagement, and statistics, the Higher Education Authority, HEA; and Mr. Paddy Howard, principal officer, innovation, research, organisations and programmes, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The witnesses are here to brief the committee on the future of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, 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. Trant, Mr. Brownlee, Dr. Cullen, Dr. Patterson and Mr. Howard. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee for six or seven minutes and time will be given for the witnesses to respond.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a 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 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 Cathaoirleach, to discontinue their remarks.

I invite Dr. Trant to begin, and the other witnesses will follow. They each have five minutes.