Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The topic for debate today is Committee Stage of the Technological Universities Bill 2015. The main purpose of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of technological universities which is a new type of higher education institution to be formed through the consolidation and merger of existing institutes of technology. The Bill also provides for the revision of the governance arrangements of the Dublin Institute of Technology and the institutes of technology, under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992 and the Regional and Technological Colleges Act 1992, respectively. The Bill is comprised of 117 sections that are divided into seven Parts together with two Schedules. Members will recall that the joint committee considered the proposed Bill in 2014 as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny procedures. After that committee heard from a range of witnesses it produced a report which included recommendations for consideration by the Minister.

I welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and officials from her Department to the meeting. I reiterate that members and guests should place their telephones on aeroplane or safe mode or completely switch them off for the duration of the meeting. I propose that if possible, the sub-committee concludes its consideration of Committee Stage during today's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed. I refer members to the list of grouped amendments for the purpose of debate which has been circulated. We will now commence consideration of the Bill.