Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not trying to in any way criticise. I am simply putting on the record that we do not all have that experience. It is as valid and meritable for everybody else who gets there regardless of which route they take.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022. It provides for the necessary items relating to the internal governance of universities, technological universities and institutes of technology by reforming the size and composition of their governing bodies. This is very worthy legislation. It is also a worthy undertaking because if we look at education over the years, the existing legislation was enacted in 1971. I was not even born in 1971. Education changes and legislation needs to change with it accordingly.

I fundamentally believe that education should be considered in the context of a holistic approach. As I mentioned in the context of Deputy Crowe's contribution, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach and no education system is going to be absolutely perfect 100% of the time. If we aim for something holistic, however, we will at the end have individuals who are not only well-educated on paper through books but well-rounded individuals who are best placed to be able to actively pursue whatever career they want.

As part of that, I believe the Bill should include the welfare and safety of students and the climate in which they study. I draw the Minister of State's attention to the report inThe Irish Timeslast week, which, to be quite frank, makes for harrowing reading. It relates to the NUIG study on sexual harassment in higher education that was conducted online with almost 8,000 students and 3,500 staff in third level institutes. The article begins by stating: "Thousands of college students at third level say they have experienced sexual violence or harassment." These statistics will no doubt strike fear in the heart of any parent who has a young person going off to college when, as the article reported:

More than 3,000 female students responded to questions on non-consensual sex. Of these, 34 per cent – more than 1,100 students – experienced non-consensual vaginal penetration through coercion, incapacitation, force, or threat of force.

That makes for extremely hard reading. It is very hard to have to read it out on the floor of this House, but it is what the students reported.

With regard to the Bill, there is an element of a missed opportunity because the study recommends that we create a "positive culture of respect, safety, and consent". The funding and structures for that to happen need to be embedded through consent frameworks in our universities, colleges and institutions. The funding of essential activities could also include in some way towards that requirement. Safety on campuses across the country for staff and students could have been improved considerably and continuously if measures to do so and the changes required had been given consideration in the context of this legislation.

It is claimed that the Bill will promote a student-focused system. It appears, however, and it has been said to me, that because of the reforms to governing bodies, students will actually have less representation on those bodies in all higher education institutions. The Minister of State needs to clarify the potential impact this could have for representation at undergraduate and postgraduate level on students and their governing bodies, on the representation of academic and non-academic staff and on trade union representation.

We have repeatedly heard shocking details over the last number of months that highlight the very real dangers women face when going about their daily activities. There were more reports today and yesterday in the national newspapers about this. We speak eloquently and movingly at times but those words need to be underpinned by definitive actions and followed up with legislation, through which we will deliver a real and measurable change for women and girls. To paraphrase a statement that has been used quite often recently, until society is safe for women and girls, it will not be safe for any of us. That needs to be underpinned in legislation and action. Otherwise, how will any of us, like myself and many more in this House who are lucky enough to have them at home, look our daughters in the eye?

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