Results 281-300 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 63: In page 29, subsection (4), line 1, after "State" to insert the following: ", other than one of the previously established universities,".

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I will withdraw it. I hope it will rise another day.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 71: In page 31, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following subsection: "(5) The Appeals Panel, upon validation of the refusal of the Authority under subsection (1)(b), will have to make a statement of evidence that the decision was compliant with section 14 of the Act of 1997.". This amendment refers to a requirement to give reasons for a decision if the appeal...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 110: In page 43, subsection (2), line 44, to delete "3 years" and substitute "2 years". I wish to make a brief point. I think there have been genuine problems in this area and, in my amendment, I propose more frequent inspection. I will be guided by the Minister of State, but I would like to hear his observations on some of the language schools. I think some of these...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: No. I thank the Minister of State for reducing the review period from seven to three years. That was obviously too long. I commend him on that.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 117: In page 47, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following subsection: "(2) The Appeals Panel will be established by the Authority in conjunction with the Academic Councils of the previously established universities as defined under section 9 of the Act of 1997.". The phrase, "The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after the establishment day, establish an...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: Perhaps the Minister of State might consider the phrase "the requisite expertise" rather than "expertise in, or knowledge of, the functions of the Authority" before Report Stage.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 118: In page 47, subsection (4), line 35, after "Minister" to insert ", with the advice and consent of Seanad Éireann,". This is an attempt to give the Seanad a role. The Minister of State opposed such a provision previously, but Parliament has a role in addressing the State's many problems. There are 42 new Senators and 77 new Deputies. Involving Parliament would...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 119: In page 50, subsection (1), line 15, after "section 79," to insert "the Irish Universities Quality Board,". The board has been exercising this function. We could transfer its functions back to the universities. The amendment is an attempt to keep that option open. In time, the new body might decide to cede functions that it does not believe it needs to exercise....

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. The universities have not asked us whether they want to wind up the IUQB. There has been a lack of consultation on the issue. If the Minister of State wants to dissolve the board, he should accept my amendment. This process indicates some of the ways such decisions are made, in that we will pass a law and lean on the universities to abolish the IUQB, or they...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State for his clarification.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 122: In page 54, subsection (1), line 28, to delete "or a learner, as the case may be,". There is some confusion on my part. I agree that the authority should recover any amount due and owing to it under the section from the provider, but how could it recover money from the learner? Perhaps the Minister of State might supply guidance. The idea of an authority pursuing...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: Is the Minister of State saying that we can recoup money from a learner who has fraudulently obtained a qualification? I do not understand the point made he makes. Why would the authority want to pursue a learner who pays money into the system to get an education, which if unsatisfactory means we might owe him or her money? The learner might in that regard have engaged with a bad provider....

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: So it relates to a person who received an award but did not pay the relevant fee.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: Perhaps we should consider doing away with that tradition on Report Stage.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 127: In page 58, subsection (2), line 24, to delete "and this Act shall apply accordingly". We have discussed this issue. The amendment attempts to state that where quality assurance procedures exist already under section 35 of the 1997 Act they shall continue to apply. The Minister of State has dealt quite comprehensively with this already. It is my wish to ensure...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 135: In page 62, paragraph 2(2), line 22, after "Minister" to insert ", with the advice and consent of Seanad Éireann".

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: Amendment No. 135 seeks involvement of the Seanad in this process. Some Members of the Seanad represent the universities. As stated by the Minister of State the current system appears to be based on whether people were consulted and the chief executive is restricted from commenting on Government policy and education. I acknowledge we have already discussed this issue and thank the Minister...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State and the chairman proposal is very good, although he might consider including board members in the next round as well. The chairman is one person and if all members were subject to the scrutiny, it would be an advance in transparency. I commend the start of the operation.