I also wish to bring up the issue of GPs. I do not know if anyone heard on "Morning Ireland" the doctor from Killarney who spoke with great clarity on the issue of GPs and, as Senator Ward said, about the GP visit card, etc. The challenge now is the GPs. We have people unable to access GPs out of hours. It is common all over the country in both rural and urban areas. This doctor made the point that it would pile up and pile up. That is a real issue and we need a debate on that issue. In a number of the newspapers a…

I welcome the Minister and his officials. I thank them for their continuous work on what is a very important issue. I also thank the Minister for setting out the order, as promised, as per his commitment during our discussions at various stages on this issue. I found most helpful the statement of reasons for making the order attached, from which my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, has just outlined some of the issues in summary. I want to turn to a number of the other issues, but I do not want to use this opportunity…

I second the amendment.

I move amendment No. 89: In page 59, line 27, after “ 143 ” to insert “or to adequately explain non-compliance”.

I move amendment No. 99: In page 63, to delete lines 37 to 40 and substitute the following: “(a) one person having a special interest in or expertise in, or knowledge of, matters relating to higher education or the functions of An tÚdarás (other than a member of the Board, a member of the staff of An tÚdarás, a public servant or a person employed or engaged by an institution of higher education which is party to the appeal), (b) one person with demonstrable expertise in, or knowledge of, matters relating to higher …

I second the amendment.

I move amendment No. 116: In page 79, line 20, after “university” to insert “or in order to enable the provision of an adequate explanation for any non-compliance”.

I move amendment No. 118: In page 80, line 6, to delete “19 members” and substitute “21 members”.

I move amendment No. 123 In page 80, to delete line 24.

I move amendment No. 127: In page 80, line 25, to delete “body.” and substitute the following: body, (f) 2 County or City Councillors, chosen by local authorities.”

I move amendment No. 141: In page 114, line 36, to delete “or” and substitute “and”.

I move amendment No. 143: In page 114, line 38, to delete “and” and substitute the following: “(fa) local authorities, City and County Councillors, and”.

I move amendment No. 144: In page 116, line 10, to delete “or” and substitute “and”.

I move amendment No. 145: In page 116, to delete lines 15 to 21 and substitute the following: “(a) the policy of the College for enabling access to it, and the education it provides, by economically or socially disadvantaged persons, by persons who have a disability and by persons from sections of society significantly under-represented in the student body, (b) the policy of the College relating to equality, including gender equality, in all activities of the College, and (c) the policy of the College relating to t…

I move amendment No. 147: In page 121, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 7 of Act of 2011 134. Section 7 of the Act of 2011 is amended— (a) in subsection (1), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (f): “(g) a higher education institution in respect of which the Minister has made a designation order under section 54 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 ,”, and (b) in subsection (3), by the deletion of paragraph (e).”.

I move amendment No. 148: In page 121, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 8 of Act of 2011 134. Section 8 of the Act of 2011 is amended in subsection (2) by the deletion of paragraph (g).”.

I move amendment No. 152: In page 126, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “(7) Where a designated institution of higher education departs from guidelines, codes or policies prepared and issued under subsection (1), the designated institution of higher education shall be afforded an opportunity to provide an explanation as to— (a) which parts of the guidelines, codes or policies it departs from, (b) the extent of any such departures, (c) the reasons for such departure or non-application of the said gu…

I move amendment No. 153: In page 126, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “(7) Where a designated institution of higher education departs from guidelines, codes or policies prepared under subsection (1) , the designated institution of higher education shall be afforded an opportunity to provide an explanation as to— (a) which parts of the guidelines, codes or policies it departs from, (b) the extent of any such departures, (c) the reasons for such departure or non-application of the said guidelines, …

I thank the Minister. I note his important comments on local authorities. I will not reopen the debate on it now. As he knows, councillors have sat on the board of University College Dublin for over 100 years. They made a very strong contribution. DCU is a classic example. I was nominated, although I did not take up the post at the time. The four local authorities in Dublin nominate one member. I know that DCU has really valued their contribution in terms of its master plan and its residential complex at All Hallow…

Hear, hear.