I apologise for the late start which was due to the overrun of the Joint Committee on Transport. I have received apologies from Senator Ulick Burke and Deputies McEllistrim and English who are unable to attend the meeting.
We have a few housekeeping matters to deal with before we meet representatives of the Irish Universities Association, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I suggest that we should go into private session now.
The committee went into private session and resumed in public session at 11.50 a.m..