Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 22, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:

“Membership of governing body of technological university

25. (1) A governing body, having not fewer than 11 and not more than 20 members, shall consist of—

(a) the president,

(b) a chairperson (in this section and Schedule 1 referred to as the "chairperson") who shall be an external member, appointed by the governing body,

(c) three members of the academic staff of the technological university, elected by the academic staff of the technological university,

(d) two members of the non-academic staff of the technological university, elected by the non-academic staff of the technological university,

(e) two undergraduate students of the technological university, nominated by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,

(f) one post-graduate student of the technological university, nominated by the student union in accordance with its own procedures, and

(g) ten external members, at least one of whom has expertise in standards and practice in higher education outside the State, nominated by a committee of the governing body comprising the chairperson and 2 other external members of the governing body formed for that purpose including—

(i) two external members nominated, in accordance with its or their own procedures, by the education and training board or boards in whose education and training board area the campuses of the technological university are located,

(ii) two external members of local authorities nominated, in accordance with its or their own procedures, by the local authorities in whose area the campuses of the technological university are located,

(iii) two external members of Seanad Eireann nominated in accordance with its or their own procedures, and

(iv) two external members from trade unions nominated in accordance with its or their own procedures whose members work in the technological university.

(2) (a) The term of office of a member of the governing body, other than the president, shall not exceed 4 years and such a member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms of office.

(b) A member of the governing body who is a student at the technological university shall hold office for such period, not exceeding one year, as the governing body may determine but may be re-appointed for a further period not exceeding one year.

(3) Before appointing members under subsection (1)(g) the governing body shall agree with An tÚdarás the competencies required of such members relating to areas such as business, enterprise, finance, law, corporate governance, human resources, community organisation or other areas relevant to the functions of the technological university.

(4) (a) The governing body shall, for the purposes of this section, make regulations of a technological university relating to conduct of elections, seeking of nominations for appointment and appointment of members to the governing body.

(b) In making regulations of a technological university under paragraph (a) the technological university shall have regard to the objective that at least 40 per cent of members of the governing body shall be women and at least 40 per cent shall be men.

(5) In this section, “external member” in relation to a technological university means a person who is not—

(a) the president,

(b) a member of the academic council,

(c) a member of staff of the technological university, or

(d) a student of the technological university.".

Given that there are amendments to amendment No. 12, I am willing to withdraw the amendment but I indicate that I will bring forward a new amendment on Report Stage which will include, particularly with respect to subsection 1(g) of the existing legislation in regard to external members of the governing body, that they should be appointed by the Minister for transparency and accountability reasons. I will be incorporating that into a new amendment on Report Stage. I am quite willing to withdraw the amendment at this stage.