Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 179:

In page 79, line 9, after “thereof” to insert “or a member of the academic council of the technological university”.

Amendments Nos. 179 and 180 are amendments to the definition of "external member" and "internal member" of the governing body of a technological university. These amendments exclude a member of the academic council of the college from being classified as an external member for the purpose of appointment to the governing authority. The amendments also remove members of the academic council from the definition of an internal member. This means that an internal member is a member of staff of the technological university or is a person who is remunerated under contract with the technological university. These definitions are now accurate. They align with the definitions in the Technological Universities Act 2018. Amendments Nos. 187 and 188 make similar amendments to the definitions of "external member" and "internal member" of the governing body of an institute of technology. Amendments Nos. 180 and 182 provide for consultation by the president of a technological university with trade unions or staff associations of members of staff on the preparation of the strategic development plan and the equality statement of the technological university. Sections 89 and 90 amend the Technological Universities Act to provide for consultation on the preparation of these plans with certain persons and bodies. It is considered - and I know it is a view conveyed today - to include trade unions and staff associations of members of staff in these consultation processes.