James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On sections 81 and 82, the Minister of State may have dealt with the following issue in her amendments. In my first review of the Bill I noticed what appeared to be a lacuna whereby the president of a technological university had no term limit and effectively could be president for life. I was going to query this. If I understand the Minister of State's amendments correctly, amendment No. 162 to section 82 inserts a maximum period of ten years. Deputy Thomas Byrne alluded to the Schedule to the Bill. It seems, therefore, that the matter has been covered. There is still, however, a little discrepancy because section 81(5)(a) talks about the term of office of an ordinary board member not being the president. If I read it correctly, it refers to a maximum term of two years. It is wise to put a cap on the president's term of office, but I wonder whether it is wise to have a term of two years for ordinary members and ten for the president. I would welcome the Minister of State's views on the matter.