I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or to switch them to flight mode because mobile phones interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to cover the meeting and television coverage and web streaming will also be adversely affected.
The next item is engagement with stakeholders on the committee's review of relationships and sexuality education, RSE. The purpose of this initial meeting is to engage with officials from the Department of Education and Skills and the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment on the committee's review of relationships and sexuality education. This will enable us to get a clearer understanding of the situation in respect of RSE and for us to be briefed on the content of the curriculum and how it is delivered in schools. We will be dividing these into two parts.
On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Suzanne Dillon, assistant chief inspector, and Ms Rita Sexton, assistant principal officer, Department of Education and Skills; and Mr. John Hammond, chief executive officer, and Ms Ger Halbert, education officer, National Council of Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. The format of this part of the meeting is that I will invite the witnesses to make a brief opening statement. I have to limit witnesses to a maximum of three minutes because situations have arisen since we organised the meeting and members need to be back in the Chamber at as close to 6 o'clock as possible. I am sure the witnesses will understand that. Members have agreed to limit their speaking time as well. We will follow the opening statements with engagement with the members of the committee.
Before we begin, I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to this committee. However, if they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise witnesses that opening statements made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting.
Before I call on Dr. Dillon to speak, I wish to inform the committee that I have to absent myself in a few minutes. Deputy Thomas Byrne has kindly agreed to take the Chair and the committee has agreed to that. I need to be present in the House for oral questions. I call on Dr. Suzanne Dillon to make her opening statement on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.