It is vitally important that the HEA and the higher education sector have a clear role in taking climate change and biodiversity action. I recognise the progress that has been made in amendment No. 7, as well as in the other amendment, and as such I will not be pressing our amendment.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 14, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “Autonomy of institutions of higher education 7. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Act shall be construed as impinging upon— (a) the autonomy of a designated institution of higher education, (b) the continued operation of the comply or explain principle which shall operate in respect of the compliance by each designated institution of higher education with any guideline, code or policy issued under section 139 as a precu…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 15, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(b) to protect and enhance the public nature of the higher education system;”. This is about protecting the public nature of higher education, which we have often spoken about. The principle behind this amendment is the most important point that we would like reflected in the Bill. The Bill makes no reference to the public nature of our higher education system. The value of having a public education cannot be overstated. The pub…

We would not want to inhibit local solutions with regard to education provision. My concern is that higher and further education is very valuable and that lots of money can be made from it. We often find that organisations and companies follow the money. With amendment No. 20, as with No. 10, we sought to explicitly recognise the public nature of the higher education system, which should play a role in determining how we fund this sector. The Minister knows that we need more places on courses that are in high deman…

I move amendment No. 11: In page 15, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(e) to ensure decent pay and good working conditions for academic (including PhD researchers) and non-academic staff in designated institutions of higher education; This amendment is on working conditions within the third level sector. Alongside protecting and enhancing the public nature of our higher education system, the other key role of the Higher Education Authority, HEA, should be to promote good working conditions in the …

I will not press this on the basis that the Minister is willing to commit to working with his Government colleagues to deliver the reforms in employment legislation or employment framework for the sector. I will take that at face value and not press it. I think the Minister fully recognises the enormous problems we have and which need to be fixed.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: (e) to support designated institutions of higher education in contributing to sustainable development, climate and biodiversity action, through research, innovation, leadership and governance;”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 15, after line 39, to insert the following: “(h) to promote the attainment of the national aims of restoring the Irish language and preserving and developing the national culture, including by promoting teaching, learning and research across the wide diversity of disciplines at higher level through the medium of Irish.”.

I move amendment No. 20: In page 17, line 10, to delete “higher education” and substitute “a well-resourced public higher education system”.

I move amendment No. 21: In page 17, line 17, after “the” where it secondly occurs to insert “promotion of cross border”. This amendment relates to the cross-border student enrolment. We need a very clear role for the HEA in promoting cross-border enrolment. We have spoken about this several times. I acknowledge the work of the Minister and his departmental officials in trying to get agreement that student enrolment across the island and opening up student opportunities across the island are vital. That is why we w…

I move amendment No. 25: In page 20, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(c) Not less than one of the persons appointed under paragraph (a) shall be a trade union representative of non-academic staff in the sector, nominated by the relevant trade union(s).”. I will speak to amendments Nos. 25 and 27, both of which relate to the trade union representation on the board of the HEA, academic and non-academic, respectively. The absence of specific reference to trade unions in the Bill has been addressed b…

I move amendment No. 26: In page 20, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(c) Not less than one of the persons appointed under paragraph (a) shall be representative for the interests of the Gaeltacht, Irish speaking community, and Irish medium education sector, nominated by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on the agreed advice of Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.”.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 20, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(c) Not less than one of the persons appointed under paragraph (a) shall be a trade union representative of academic staff in the sector, nominated by the relevant trade union(s).”.

I move amendment No. 29: In page 22, line 21, to delete “National Apprenticeship Office” and substitute “Oifig na bPrintíseachtaí”.

I move amendment No. 31: In page 28, to delete lines 35 to 38. This amendment deletes the part of the Bill providing that the CEO of the Higher Education Authority is specifically prohibited from commenting on policy. The Bill states he or she "shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such a policy". This phrase relates specifically to Oireachtas committees, not including the Committee of Public Accounts…

In that case, I will withdraw the amendment.

I move amendment No. 52: In page 38, line 19, after “section 139” to insert “or to adequately explain non-compliance”. I will withdraw the amendment on the basis of the legal advice.

I move amendment No. 60: In page 42, line 6, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

I move amendment No. 61: In page 42, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(d) a summary of engagement with the students’ union and any proposals put forward by students and representatives of students to address issues of concerns referred to in paragraph (a) .”.

Does Ireland's electricity market have limited interconnection and does gas play a strong role in setting the price of electricity? I ask this question because those elements were the justification for an exemption given to Spain and Portugal from the EU rules in this regard. Now that the EU has extended that exemption to all member states, will the Department consider actions to stop gas from setting the price of all electricity and to reduce the overall cost of the intolerably high electricity bills people are fa…