I sincerely thank the Deputy for the good work we have all been doing together on the promotion of cross-border education and viewing the island of Ireland in relation to student mobility and opportunities. The establishment of the technological university in the north west, the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, presents a great opportunity in relation to Magee Campus of the University of Ulster and the commitments of the Irish and British Governments under New Decade, New Approach. We are certainly working o…

I move amendment No. 23: In page 18, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(4) The Minister may publish guidelines issued by him or her under subsection (1) in such manner as he or she considers appropriate.”. On Committee Stage, I stated that I would table an amendment on Report Stage on the publication of guidelines under section 12. Some Deputies, particularly Deputy Ó Ríordáin, made a compelling case. He tabled his own amendment to try to advance the issue this evening. I looked at it in light of h…

I thank the Deputies and, in particular, Deputy Conway-Walsh, for the acknowledgement that we moved on representation for the governing authorities. That was an issue that the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, and others, pursued. I engaged with the TUI at its national congress in Wexford a few weeks previously on that point. I am not minded to accept these three amendments. To be blunt, the HEA board must be competence-based. That is in no way to suggest that trade union representatives or people with a trade union …

I move amendment No. 30: In page 25, line 8, after “report” to insert “under section 23 ”. I think there are 19 amendments in the group. I do not expect they will detain us for very long because they are very much technical or typographical. The group includes cross-referencing, grammatical and formatting amendments. Amendment No. 30 amends section 21(9) regarding a reference to the annual report of an t-údarás as it is deemed correct to insert the reference to the section in this Act that sets out the report. Amen…

We had a good discussion on this on Committee Stage and I further checked and cross-checked it. The reality is that I am accountable to this House on policy matters. What we are proposing here is a standard provision. Amendment No. 31 proposes to remove section 28, which is the accountability of the CEO to other Oireachtas committees. Section 28(9) states: "In the performance of his or her duties under this section, the Chief Executive Officer shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of …

I move amendment No. 32: In page 29, to delete lines 33 to 38, and in page 30, to delete lines 1 to 26 and substitute the following: “30. Notwithstanding the repeal of the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 by section 5(1), a person who was an officer or servant of An tÚdarás appointed under section 14(1) of that Act, immediately before the commencement of section 7 shall be deemed to be a member of the staff of An tÚdarás— (a) as if, on that commencement, An tÚdarás had appointed under section 29(1) the person to…

Amendment No. 63 is my amendment in this group. It is grouped because this amendment is one I indicated I would make following on from Deputy Ó Ríordáin's representation and advocacy on Committee Stage. My amendment addresses amendment No. 64, if I may put it like that, because it amends section 46 to include provision for the HEA to consult "members of the staff of designated institutions of higher education or the trades unions or staff associations of those members of staff" on the preparation by the HEA of a dr…

I move amendment No. 36: In page 34, line 6, after “environmental” to insert “development and".

I move amendment No. 37: In page 34, to delete lines 9 and 10 and substitute the following: “(ix) social, economic and cultural requirements, including the requirements in higher education for the promotion and use of the Irish language of students who are enrolled in primary schools and post-primary schools which provide education through the medium of the Irish language, with particular regard to such schools in or serving Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and…

I move amendment No. 38: In page 34, line 26, after “environmental” to insert “development and” .

I move amendment No. 39: In page 34, to delete lines 29 and 30 and substitute the following: “(m) social, economic and cultural requirements, including the requirements in higher education for the promotion and use of the Irish language of students who are enrolled in primary schools and post-primary schools which provide education through the medium of the Irish language, with particular regard to such schools in or serving Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and…

I move amendment No. 43: In page 35, line 37, to delete “in consultation” and substitute “following engagement” . I will first speak to my amendments in this group, amendments Nos. 43 and 46, which I have tabled in an attempt to respond to amendments from Opposition colleagues; namely, amendments Nos. 44, 45, 47 and 48. This is the debate around consultation, partnership and engagement. It is about how strong a wording we can put in. Amendments Nos. 43 and 46, in my name, delete the term "in consultation" and repla…

I move amendment No. 46: In page 36, line 1, to delete “in consultation” and substitute “following engagement” .

I would like to explain why I do not propose to accept the amendments in this grouping. I am not proposing to make amendments to the Bill around the inclusion of a specific reference to the comply-or-explain principle or references to the provision of an adequate explanation for non-compliance. It is considered that the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022 at present reflects the comply-or-explain principle and is consistent with the autonomy of higher education institutions. The departmental policy intent is that …

I have an amendment in this grouping, amendment No. 56. It provides that the approval of the board is needed by the CEO of the HEA to determine such other conditions of funding a funded body must comply with. I am not proposing to accept amendments Nos. 53, 54, 55, 57, 69 or 78. There has always been a balance between the role of the chief executive officer and that of the board. Through the work we did on Committee Stage and my amendment this evening, I believe we are achieving that balance.

I move amendment No. 56: In page 38, line 23, after “determined” to insert “, with the approval of the Board,”.

I move amendment No. 58: In page 41, line 41, after “groups” to insert “and students who are competent to speak the Irish language”.

I move amendment No. 59: In page 42, line 3, after “groups” to insert “and students who are competent to speak the Irish language”.

I thank my colleague, Senator Maria Byrne, very much for raising this important matter and, indeed, for her ongoing interest and work in the whole area of further and higher education. I enjoyed our recent visit to County Limerick and we are going to make progress on many issues, including the library in Mary Immaculate College. I look forward to coming back on that. I also enjoyed attending her online meeting during which I had a chance to engage with students and parents, including the family she mentioned with r…

I thank the Senator and assure her I will work closely with her on this. I highlight the two schemes in existence not to suggest they are perfect or an alternative to reform but just to put that information out there for anyone following this debate as avenues that might be of assistance to a student with disability or students more generally in terms of the student assistance fund, because they are available to part-time students. However, I take the point. More and more, we are going to see people of all ages wan…