Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Those present should ensure that their phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting because they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even if they are on silent mode. Some housekeeping first, are the minutes of the meeting on 21 May agreed? Agreed.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Yuming Lian, Belvedere College, Dublin 1, Ms Naisha Adhikari, Coláiste na Mí, Johnstown, County Meath, Ms Aoibhínn Doyle, Ramsgrange Community College, Ramsgrange, County Wexford, who are all climate activists, Mr. Shari Irfan, president of the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU, and Ms Colette Murphy, vice president for welfare, from the Union of Students in Ireland, USI. To the Public Gallery, I welcome Mr. Michael Grehan and Mr. Pádraig Swan, who are teachers in Belvedere College, Mr. Brendan Doyle, Ms Renhe Chu and Mr. Bijender Adhikari, who are parents, Ms. Maeve Richardson from the ISSU and Ms Kelda MacManus from the USI.

The witnesses are here to discuss climate action and sustainable development education in post-primary and tertiary education. The format of the meeting will be that I will invite the witnesses to make brief opening statements in the following order: Mr. Lian; Mr. Irfan; Ms. Murphy; Ms Adhikari; and Ms Doyle. Mr. Lian, Ms Doyle and Ms Adhikari will have three minutes each and Mr. Irfan and Ms Murphy will have five minutes each. The opening statements will be followed by questions from the committee members. Each member has a six-minute slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting.

Before we begin, 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 or entity outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Mr. Lian may begin. He will be followed by the other witnesses in the order I outlined.