Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 58:

In page 31, line 36, after “strategy,” to insert the following: "including policies relating to social, economic, cultural and environmental development and sustainability and the promotion and use of the Irish language,".

This is to provide that the Minister shall in the preparation of the strategy for tertiary education have regard to policies relating to social, economic, cultural and environmental development, sustainability and the promotion and use of the Irish language. The section already includes a reference to the Minister having regard to any national policies when preparing the strategy and that those policies would include the policies outlined in the amendment. The amendment is made to strengthen the provisions in relation to consideration of policies on social, economic, cultural and environment development and sustainability, and the promotion and use of the Irish language. The issue of environmental development and sustainability is something Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has discussed with me. We will return to it on Report Stage based on a discussion we had earlier. The promotion and use of the Irish language is a debate we have been having extensively this evening. It arises from engagement with colleagues on the committee and with Conradh na Gaeilge.