Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 10 to 15, inclusive, were discussed at some length.

During the debate on Report Stage in the Dáil an amendment was accepted to define the term "grandfather clause" and I have since been advised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel that the reference is inappropriate and I believe it is also politically incorrect. This was also the feeling in the Seanad.

I will return to amendment No. 2 because we have discussed and agreed amendment No. 1. Amendment No. 2 provides for an appropriate definition of "practical experience assessment procedures" as advised by the Parliamentary Counsel and it is relevant to sections 19, 20, 34 and 48. It is better to deal with the technical assessment and procedures as they are in the Bill.

The technical assessment board will be established under section 19 of the Bill to assess the eligibility for registration of those persons with ten or more years experience in the State performing duties commensurate with those of architect. Section 20 of the Bill sets out the procedure for such assessment and includes a requirement that the applicant submit to the board a curriculum vitae providing details of the work carried out by the applicant in the field of architecture, information on projects from the ten year period, a file containing at least four projects for which the applicant is responsible and independent verification of all documents submitted.

I hope that Deputies will accept that these provisions demonstrate that practical experience will be taken on board as an integral part of the technical assessment. Deputy Durkan knows as well as I that some people applying the title architect to themselves should not be free to practise in public. Moreover, I point out that the criteria set out in section 20 are clear, fair and it will be the responsibility of the technical assessment board to operate in a fair and equitable manner following enactment of the Bill.

Amendments Nos. 10, 12 and 14 are technical amendments that flow from the changes made in section 2 and amendments Nos. 11, 13 and 15 are consequential numbering amendments. The real issue here is the technical expertise assessment procedure established by the Bill which has, I think, universal support.

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