Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, in fairness, has done a lot of work on this, but other Deputies have also raised the issue of climate action, sustainability and how we endeavour to strengthen the Bill. I said at the previous session of Committee Stage of the Bill that, under this legislation, the HEA will be able to issue guidelines, codes and policies in respect of climate action. I think we were discussing towards the end of the previous session that it is grand for me to say that but that Deputies want an assurance beyond that. I wish to flag that it is my intention to see if I can re-engage with the HEA to try to provide a greater degree of assurance to the committee in writing regarding the climate agenda being prioritised in respect of guidelines and codes by the HEA when this Bill passes.

Second, and I say this as a reminder because it will come up quite a bit in this evening's session, and maybe if I say it now I will not keep saying it and taking the committee's time, we are also looking at how we can strengthen definitions relating to sustainability and the likes. I flagged on the previous day that I would see if I could bring forward amendments in this regard on Report Stage. I just wanted to flag that in respect of amendments Nos. 97, 98, 101 and 108.