Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I should flag that I am considering an amendment to section 1 for Report Stage. It does not relate to this matter, but I believe I am meant to put on record that section 1 is proposed to be revised in regard to collective citations. It is largely a technical matter but this legislation is dealing with the Universities Act, the Technological Universities Act, the Institutes of Technology Acts and the National College of Art and Design Act 1971. Significant amendments have been made to the latter, and collective citations will now be considered by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.

I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Laoghaire for the amendment. I am introducing ten amendments on Committee Stage to strengthen the role of the Irish language in this legislation. I genuinely acknowledge Deputy Conway-Walsh's work on this and her highlighting the matter on Second Stage and at meetings with my officials. I also thank Conradh na Gaelige, with which I have had several significant engagements over recent weeks. There was a quite detailed meeting in my Department at which we went through a long list of ways in which the body believes we can strengthen the legislation, most of which I have been able to accommodate and facilitate. No doubt we will tease through the rest as we go through the legislation. There are to be ten Government amendments on Committee Stage to strengthen the promotion of the Irish language in this Bill.

I do not propose to accept amendment No. 1. I happy to consider the matter it further between now and Report Stage and to engage further with the Deputy on it. However, my rationale is that the Bill is replacing and amending the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. The proposal was that we would retain the same name for the 2022 legislation. The 1971 Act and this Bill refer to the Irish name, an t-Údarás um Ard-Oideachas. There are several references to "An t-Údarás". The body was established in 1971. Section 7 provides for the continuance of "An t-Údarás um Ard-Oideachas". "An t-Údarás" is defined in the Bill. The Higher Education Authority is most commonly known as the Higher Education Authority or as the HEA. It is anticipated that a proposed change of the name to the Bill could cause some confusion. There are significant references to the Irish language in the Bill. More important, there will be more references and protections as we go through Committee Stage. I understand the point being made and am happy to reflect further and engage between now and Report Stage, but I am very satisfied that the substantive amendments we are introducing to promote the Irish language within higher education will make a real and meaningful difference to the Irish language when the legislation is passed.