I am sure that can be arranged. We will make copies available. The Bill provides a legal basis for the functions of the HEA and the role of the Minister. HEIs are independent entities established under statute or as not-for-profit or private institutions. The HEA is the statutory body that acts as an intermediary between autonomous HEIs and the State. Crucially, the HEA is responsible for securing the achievement of Government objectives for the higher education system and ensuring accountability and securing value…

As I think Senator Norris will like to hear, Part 14 amends the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 to amend the definition of "institution of higher education" to which the Housing Finance Agency can provide support. I suggest that we take the rest of my script, which outlines the provisions of the remaining sections, as read. I look forward to debating the Bill with Senators.

I am not accountable for the monarch.

I am blushing.

I will not use my prepared script in the interests of trying to respond to a number of the very interesting and important issues that were raised. I am glad to be back in Seanad Éireann. Unlike in the other House, I am not a Member here. The Seanad orders its business as the Members wish to order its business. I am here to genuinely engage in good faith. We genuinely engaged on the issue in the Dáil. We did not just come in and use our Dáil majority to say, "Thanks very much, good night and good luck." We brought f…

I am just going through the thematic issues. Senator Hoey and a number of other Senators brought up the issue of guidelines; that the guideline has to be done and if that is not done one might be in trouble with the HEA. This also needs to be seen both in law and in context. The policy intent is compliance and I accept Senator Mullen's challenge to show that and to talk through it because he suggests that the sector has concerns about this. I hear that as well so I am happy to do that on Committee Stage and we will…

I am speaking specifically to amendments Nos. 5, 6, 16, 37, 39, 58, 59 and 62. The reason I list them at the start is to indicate that I am now bringing forward a further eight amendments on Report Stage in order to strengthen the provision relating to the Irish language in the Bill. I am sincere when I say that I enjoyed our Committee Stage discussion, particularly with Deputy Ó Snodaigh. We have made cross-party efforts to strengthen the provision, support and promotion of the Irish language in the Bill. It has b…

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for the work he has done on this matter. I assure the House that we as a Department have liaised closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, including the director of the Irish language in the Department, on bringing forward our amendments to ensure we are in line with the policy of the Government and our collective policy on the promotion of the Irish language. I am satisfied that the eight further amendments, on top of the 12 amendments we made on C…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 11, line 29, after “Act” to insert “, other than sections 85, 86, 87, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103 and 105". This point will not come as any surprise to the Dáil because it arises from our discussions on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 3 is on the provisions relating to the incorporation of educational institutions into technological universities, TUs. A consent for research companies established under TUs will be commenced upon the enactment of the Bill rather than by ministeria…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “ “Act of 2011” means the Student Support Act 2011;”. All of the amendments in this grouping are in my name. Amendment No. 4 is a technical amendment to the interpretation of the Student Support Act 2011 into the Bill. Amendment No. 132 provides the Minister with the power to assist with the administration of bursaries and scholarships for the purpose of assisting students to pursue approved courses at approved institutions. Amend…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “ “Gaeltacht Language Planning Area” has the meaning it has in Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012; “Gaeltacht Service Town” has the meaning it has in Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012;”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 13, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “ “Irish Language Network” has the meaning it has in Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012;”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 13, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: “(3) In this Act, references to environmental development and sustainability shall be construed as references to development and actions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, including actions in respect of social, economic, cultural and environmental development, climate and biodiversity.”. This i…

I move amendment No. 8: In page 14, to delete lines 13 and 14 and substitute the following: “5. (1) The enactments specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 are repealed to the extent specified in column (3) of that Part of that Schedule and the enactments specified in Part 2 of that Schedule are revoked to the extent specified in column (3) of that Part of that Schedule.”. Amendment No. 8 seeks to enable the inclusion of Part 2 of Schedule 1, which revokes certain enactments. Amendment No. 142 is a technical amendment to …

I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Ríordáin for their engagement on this topic. I am not in a position to accept the amendments but I will clarify why and let the Deputies know of the work we have done. This Bill does not affect the autonomy or academic freedom of universities or any other higher education institution. I would defend to the death the importance of academic freedom in any democracy. It is a cornerstone of higher education and at all times during the development and drafting of the legislation the a…

I said on Committee Stage that, implicitly or explicitly, I have no interest whatsoever in the privatisation of the higher education system. We have recently taken decisions in respect of funding higher education recognising that it is a public good. The absolutely clear policy agenda is to support and enhance publicly funded higher education institutions. As the Deputy, in fairness, acknowledged, there is nothing in this Bill that would alter that reality in any way, shape or form. My concern about this amendment,…

I will respond on a point of agreement. We need to be much better at workforce planning in the public sector. Very shortly, the Minister for Health and I will jointly bring forward proposals with regard to workforce planning for the number of medical graduates we need. I take the point Deputy Conway-Walsh initiated with regard to teacher training and recognise Deputy Ó Ríordáin's expertise in this area. I wrote to all Departments quite some time ago, and will do so again, about the importance of line Departments an…

I am not in a position to accept these amendments. I will take the opportunity to outline why. With regard to No. 11, in the name of Deputy Conway-Walsh, I will be really clear that I too want to see a dramatic improvement with regard to precarious employment in the sector, as do the Government and everybody else in this country. We have to acknowledge that it is a real issue and I do. Similarly, we want to see improvements in the way we support our PhD researchers. It is a question of the mechanism under law throu…

The Deputy might do that, but that is for a different debate. I think we agree on this. I know we both believe education is a public good which means it should be funded through the public purse. We already have a levy on employers who pay into the national training fund. We have a contribution fee which I want to see reduced. My thoughts on that are well known and I am working through that process now. We have made decisions. While I am not referring to the Deputy, some had this romantic notion that the Cassells r…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 16, to delete lines 21 and 22 and substitute the following: “Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and outside of such Areas, Towns and Networks, with regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language.”.