Professor Brian Norton:

The Dublin alliance is made up of DIT, IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght. We are working together to produce a technological university for Dublin, emphasising a practice-based student experience to complement the more research-led experience in traditional universities while continuing to embrace the diversity of students, offering real flexibility in learning and in the pace and place of learning - on campus and online - and retaining the three existing campuses, DIT in Grangegorman, and the campuses in Blanchardstown and Tallaght. The aim is to create a new type of university graduate who has core skills but is innovative, creative and entrepreneurial. The institution aims to be a true force for innovation and the international standing of Ireland.

We welcome the legislation, which supports the idea of a new frontier for Irish higher education, providing a diversity of institutions that meet different learners' needs and the different needs of society, stakeholders and industry, while also driving forward the quality of talent.

Talent is seen as the key driver for economic and cultural success and social inclusion within Ireland. The general scheme outlines clearly the main objectives of a technological university, with which we are in agreement. We also are in agreement with the proposal for a very strong model of governance which is based on competency but also rooted in the locality. An important consideration in bringing together institutions which have particular localities is that they would continue to serve those localities well. There is a balance to be struck between focusing on the locality and seeking to achieve very strong competence-based governance.

The legislation makes provision for flexibility in the workplace and in financial management, particularly in respect of supporting new enterprise development. That is critical. Indeed, the long tradition within the three institutions of supporting new business development is as important as supports for foreign direct investment.

Our detailed submission contains a number of technical points to do with the legislation, which I will not go into here. I will, however, draw members' attention to the point that in respect of the processes to merge institutions before moving forward to seek designation, there is no specific provision during the merged phase for an academic council or senate which would draw from the constituent institutions. That is an issue we would like to see addressed.

In broad terms, the proposals could be said to strike too much of a focus around particular numbers of students and so on, which might reduce our flexibility into the future. We have a commitment to work collaboratively with students, colleagues, social partners and external stakeholders. It is important that the legislation would enable us to realise a system of higher education delivery that is relevant to Ireland's future needs.