Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 12, subsection (2), between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following:
“(g) bodies representative of business, industry and employers,”.

The purpose of my amendments Nos. 8 and 22 is to ensure that bodies representative of business, industry and employers are consulted, both in the performance by an education and training board of its functions generally and when drawing up its strategy statement. In this way, the needs of business will be appropriately reflected in the work of the boards.

My colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has also emphasised the need for the functions of education and training boards to include explicit reference to education and training for the purpose of employment. I intend to consider this matter further with a view to bringing forward an amendment on Report Stage.