Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The effect of these amendments would be to label the registration procedure under sections 19 and 20 as the "grandfather clause". The procedure is set out clearly in those sections and there is no reason to add to it with this amendment giving it a formal title. The procedure for architects applying for registration on the basis of training acquired by practical means is set down in section 20. It will be the function of the technical assessment board to provide for the assessment of such applicants. The RIAI will not set the standards. The board appointed by the Minister will set them.

Amendment No. 63 would require the technical assessment board, in assessing whether a person has the competencies specified in article 46 of the 2005 directive, to have due regard to the skills acquired through practical means and, where applicable, through formal training. This is already provided for in section 20(7). The amendment does not add to the section but might only cause confusion.

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