It has.

What do Standing Orders say?

I want clarification from Seanad officials on this because I am going to take this up-----

It has nothing to do with me, though. I have made myself available. Senator McDowell may say it matters diddly-squat to him whether I am here or not. I was asked this morning if I would make myself available. I said I would do so again tomorrow and on Friday.

I said that to the person who contacted us in respect of this. That was said by me. The Senator can have his own arguments and tiffs. I am not allowing him to suggest in any way, shape or form that I am seeking to guillotine the debate.

The truth is that I am available today, tomorrow and Friday. I am in the hands of Seanad Éireann.

It was going through the Dáil.

There are plenty of amendments to speak to and the Senators have chosen to stand up but not speak to the amendments, which is interesting. This piece of legislation has not been rushed. It has not been described as emergency legislation. Consultation first began on the reform of this legislation in July 2018. The outcome of that was published in July 2019. There was then a further round of consultation. The general scheme to replace the 1971 Bill was published by the Government in May 2021. Pre-legislative scrutiny…

In a refreshing move, I might speak to the amendment.

That is generally how Committee Stage works. Amendment No. 1 is in the names of Senators Norris and Boyhan. I thank Senator Norris for his opening contribution which I will get to as we go through the various stages of the amendments. The Senator will not be surprised that I am not in a position to accept this amendment because it proposes to remove section 1(2) of the Bill. That is the section which provides for the commencement of the Act by ministerial order with the exemption of certain sections relating to the…

I thank the Senators. As Senator Higgins rightly points out, this amendment needs to be seen in the context of more substantive amendments that come up later in the Bill in respect of the constitution and composition of the board of an t-údarás. I believe these new definitions are not necessary as it is not specified in respect of the membership of the board of an t-údarás whether a member is an academic member. The board is a competency-based board and the competencies required are set out in section 16(2)(a). It …

I will let the tangential point stand. I thank Senator Norris and thank the other Senators for their contributions. The amendment relates to the definition in respect of the academic member of the board. As I suggested in my earlier comments, Members felt the need, understandably, to wander to other sections to have a more holistic conversation; I get that. The amendment relates to whether we should define "academic member" in the legislation. Considering that the Bill being put forward by the Government establishe…

Or health or justice or-----

Senator McDowell was not a policeman when he was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Next point.

I protested much of it.

I have no such power.

No, I cannot. How can I call in the Leader?

I am not.

I want to come back on the issue of academic autonomy and on the comments I have heard from Senators here. Autonomy is protected, but autonomy cannot be used as a fig leaf or a catch-all word to cover other issues that are of legitimate importance, such as governance, accountability and an education system that advances the delivery of public policy. I attended a very good debate in this House, led by Senator Ruane, on the issue of non-disclosure agreements, NDAs. During that debate, I specifically referred to this…