Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 63:

In page 32, to delete lines 5 and 6 and substitute the following: “(5)The Minister shall, for the purposes of preparing or amending a strategy, consult with—

(a) the Minister for Education and such other Ministers of the Government as the Minister considers appropriate,

(b) An tÚdarás,

(c) An tSeirbhís,

(d) the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland,

(e) Science Foundation Ireland,

(f) the National Apprenticeship Office established pursuant to section 18,

(g) the designated institutions of higher education or their representative bodies,

(h) institutions providing further education and training or their representative bodies,

(i) representatives of students or students’ unions,

(j) trades unions or staff associations of members of staff of designated institutions of higher education which are recognised by those institutions,

(k) trades unions or staff associations of members of staff of institutions providing further education and training which are recognised by those institutions,

(l) public research funders, and

(m) such other bodies or persons as the Minister considers appropriate.”.

This amendment arises directly from extensive discussion during the many consultations we have had with stakeholders. The Bill as published includes a provision in 33(5) which states, "The Minister shall, for the purposes of preparing a strategy, consult with such bodies or persons as the Minister considers appropriate." However, some of our key stakeholders have requested to be named in the list. This amendment endeavours to specify a wide list of stakeholders who shall be consulted by the Minister in preparation of the strategy. The proposed amendment also includes consultation with such other bodies as the Minister considers appropriate. This will provide for consultation with any persons or bodies who are not included in the list or, indeed, who may emerge in the future.

I am endeavouring to address what amendments Nos. 64, 65 and 66 are intended to do. I acknowledge that both Deputies Ó Ríordáin and Conway-Walsh are trying to ensure that the Minister shall, not may, consult with student representatives; representative bodies, including the Irish Universities Association the Technological Higher Education Authority and others; and the trade unions which Deputy Conway-Walsh has listed. In the amendment, I am listing all of those groups and in the process of doing so, we decided it would be useful to list a few more as well. I think we have captured it, or that is my contention.