Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 20, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(c) Not less than one of the persons appointed under paragraph(a)shall be a trade union representative of non-academic staff in the sector, nominated by the relevant trade union(s).”.

I will speak to amendments Nos. 25 and 27, both of which relate to the trade union representation on the board of the HEA, academic and non-academic, respectively. The absence of specific reference to trade unions in the Bill has been addressed by several amendments on Committee Stage, which is very welcome.

Trade unions will now be represented on this body. It is, however, important that they are represented on the board of the HEA as well as the governing bodies of the individual institutions. The inclusion of trade unions on the HEA governing authority is welcome but this Bill sets up the HEA with new legislation. It seems the HEA should also have the same trade union representation.

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