Mr. Tim Conlon:

I thank Senator Byrne for the question. I might jump back to the previous question for a moment in terms of what we would like to see different in five years' time. It is very interesting. We would like to see a HEA that is resourced and empowered. That is what is envisaged in this Act and in this legislation. Again, on that previous question, we are lucky; we have a diversity of institutions with differing strengths and differing scale across the system. We have to respond to and engage with them all in different ways. As I said, each of them has its strengths. They are within regions and understand the regions in which they operate. We would, therefore, like to see them responsive and regionally engaged by responding to national requirements while fulfilling local and regional missions at the same time.

That goes to Senator Byrne's question about the relationship. The amalgamation of the further and higher education research system under one Department has really improved the overall landscape. We are seeing a greater relationship with our parent Department in terms of improving the setting up of policy and strategic direction versus the operational balance that we have to see.

One of the challenges, perhaps, as I mentioned in our submission, is that when we spin up a new project or respond to an emerging situation, even where we have the financial resources, we do not have the ability to hire staff, for example, to see something through and make it happen. Again, some of that economy would be an improvement. It is difficult when one wants to respond rapidly that the chain of command and control can be a break on that. As I said, however, overall, the landscape has improved and changed.

In terms of the boundaries and nationally setting strategy, I absolutely agree with my colleague, Ms Kenny. It is for the Minister and Government to set policy and for the HEA to implement it. Setting that national policy agenda needs to be at a sufficiently high elevation so as not to be getting into the micro-managing of institutions. Setting a sufficiently high-level policy, which then allows institutions to respond within that and the HEA to oversee it, would be an ideal situation.

In terms of what the sanctions would be and where they would be applied, a number of options are set out for us in the legislation. Some of them are sanctions and some are remedial actions. In our experience of engaging with institutions, sometimes where one has a problem, at the back of the issue is a financial issue or a lack of resources to do something in the way an institution might like. A further sanction does not help them. Going back to some of the earlier comments, students are the most at-risk group. A financial sanction on an institution can hit the front line and hit students who, most importantly, are the ones we are trying to protect. I will not go on further than that. I hope that was helpful with the Senator's questions.