James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome amendment No. 14 from an tAire Stáit. Deputy Thomas Byrne and I had proposed similar amendments prior to Committee Stage. In particular the amendments sought to broaden the definition beyond cultural and social and to include scientific and technological advances within the remit of the university. It seems to be a core function of a technological university to contribute to that advancement in the State. I was recently privileged to visit the Fraunhofer Project Centre in DCU, which is a very good example of scientific and technological advancement within the model envisaged for technological universities. It is a core function of a technological university and it makes perfect sense to include it in the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for making that amendment, as suggested by Deputy Byrne, and I support the amendment.

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