Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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We have no apologies. Members all very welcome this evening. I ask those attending remotely to mute their microphone when not contributing so that we do not pick up any background noise or feedback. I remind all of those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

Members attending remotely are reminded of the constitutional requirement that, in order to participate in public meetings, they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex. It is important to note that in order to participate in a division in a committee, members must be physically present, that is, they cannot vote from a remote location. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or entity outside of the Houses or an official of the Houses either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

As the Minister is present, it is not expected that officials will speak in public session. The Select Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is meeting for the second time with the Minister to consider, in the first part, the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 and then the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, and his officials today and thank them for providing the documentation. I invite the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to say a few words.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and members. It is good to be back with the select committee today. Before I get into the business of the meeting, is it in order to give an update on the Queen's-Dundalk IT announcement today? It could be of interest to members.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Of course.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for her indulgence. I know she is a great supporter of the project.

Dundalk IT and Queen's University have entered into an agreement to advance a partnership whereby Dundalk IT would become a university college of Queen's, Belfast. That is a really positive development. I am very supportive of it. I brought it to Cabinet yesterday myself. At the same time as we deliberated in the Government, the boards of Queen's and of Dundalk IT were also in session. We had three parallel meetings and the outcome on all sides was positive and affirming of it. That will advance now to a more detailed engagement. There are a number of items to be worked through in terms of admissions, governance, funding and regulation. None are insurmountable; they are all matters that we will work through. It is likely I will be required to bring legislation before the Houses to advance this proposal because it is novel. It is the first ever all-Ireland university. That is seismic and symbolic in itself. It also advances education provision in the north east, on the Dublin-Belfast corridor and indeed in the north east more generally, because it provides for the first time a fully fledged university in Dundalk and in the wider area. Graduates of Dundalk IT will now be graduates of Queen's. They will have full university degrees. They will have access to all the wider research infrastructure and wider facilities that Queen's has to offer. Queen's is a very strong university. It is in the top 200 globally. It is very significant in respect of everything from medical centres to climate research to engineering and it brings that to the table. Dundalk IT of course has a very strong, well-earned and deserved reputation. It of course will be an equal part of this partnership. It is not a parent-child arrangement. It is actually a parity of esteem undertaking.

I just wanted to update members of the committee on that. There will be work to do over the next 12 months and I will come back to the committee with legislation and further updates. I certainly am very positive on it and excited about it. It is a really important dimension as part of our shared island but also as part of our educational provision. I thank the committee for the opportunity to mention that.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I warmly welcome what has been achieved and it is great to hear the Minister being able to utter the phrase "all-Ireland university". Those of us who come from Ulster are particularly conscious of and proud of that development. I represent two of the counties that are in the broader catchment area of Dundalk Institute of Technology and a huge amount of students from my own constituency attend the institute. I have been a regular visitor to the college over the years and I have seen its benefits for the economy, not just for Louth but for the greater area. A number of years ago, the former president of the college, Dr. Michael Mulvey, was a great advocate for more all-Ireland co-operation. I remember very well attending meetings in the Dundalk institute alongside other Oireachtas colleagues from the north east, and with MLAs from the neighbouring constituencies north of the Border such as Justin McNulty MLA, and others. It was on the basis of moving forward cross-Border and all-Ireland co-operation. The seeds of that were sown very much at that particular time. I give credit to Dr. Mulvey who was advocating for this, along with others, with the then board of governors or board of management, whatever was the governing body. Great credit is due. I also give the Minister and his Department officials great credit for advancing it to this stage. In fairness to Queen's, Belfast, some of its personnel have done good outreach, including coming to the Oireachtas. Dr. Ryan Feeney and others have very much advocated for greater all-Ireland and cross-Border co-operation. Where I come from, I very much welcome that development. Fair dues to the Minister and to his colleagues in the Department, as well as to the people in Dundalk and Queen's.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It would be remiss of me not to say how positive this is for the entire north-east region, as Deputy Smith has said. Dundalk is my town and DKIT is hugely important to me. It will be transformative for the north east and right across the area. Economically, socially and educationally, this is going to be absolutely fantastic. There are so many opportunities. I listened to young people and students speaking about this on RTÉ News. They are really excited. The staff are looking forward to this. It really is a testament to the governing body, to the staff and the students in DKIT who have allowed this to happen. I am grateful to Queen's University for matching up with DKIT. I am looking forward to the opportunities and to see what will happen. I thank the Minister and all his officials for the work they have done. They have done the State and the north east some great service. I look forward to working with the Minister on whatever legislation and help the Minister needs this committee to do. We will be here, ready and willing to do it.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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We will proceed to opening statements on the national training fund Bill, and more money for our higher and further education sector. Apologies, first we will hear from Deputy McGettigan. I apologise to the Deputy I did not see her indicating.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome this announcement today. Dundalk IT was one of the only institutes not amalgamated into any technological university so it was almost stand-alone. Coming from Belfast myself it is a big thing to have that first all-island college for people like myself and my family. My granny actually graduated from Queen's University at the age of 90, so that is a big success story.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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A lifetime learner.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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She always said "You are never too old".

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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Fair play to her.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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I very much welcome this and I am delighted to see it.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise again to the Deputy. We will now go to the Minister for his opening statement on the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025.