Results 3,741-3,760 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have listened carefully to the Senator and, if she does not mind, would like her to look at the Bill. Section 9 is approximately three pages long. In subsection (4) there is a clause on promoting an entrepreneurial ethos. Section 9(1)(c) provides that it will be a function of the technological university to "provide for the broad education, intellectual and personal development of...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will hold my ground. I do not propose to accept that amendment because there are many points describing creativity, the need for innovation and the need for research. I know the Senator is looking at one word, "ethos", but this whole Bill describes what we hope the ethos of a technological university is. All of those concepts relating to innovation, creativity and the humanities are...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We are talking about the strong social and cultural links and about innovation and research. This is not confined to the limits of one bullet point and the one word the Senator has focused on. The Bill is not about that. We should get what we want for our students.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: No, I do not. What is the decision?

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Which amendment?

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Section 16, on page 19, provides that academic staff shall form the majority of the academic council of a technological university. It also provides the governing body of each technological university, including its student members - this implies there will be student members in the governing body - with flexibility to decide for itself the overall number of members the academic council...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In allowing the governing body, which has student members, to regulate the number of students on the academic council, the Bill is consistent with existing legislation under the Universities Act. I will read in full the relevant part of the Act for Senator Norris's benefit in case he believes I am leaving out important parts. Section 28(1) is as follows:28.—(1) The majority of...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator. I believe I am reasonable and I did mention section 28(1)(c), page 28, of the Universities Act. What we are doing is mirroring that Act, which provides that the composition of the academic council should include an appropriate number of students. That is the basis of my argument. I said this here last week and am reiterating it very strongly. The governing body will...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I would not envisage, if the students are on the governing body, that they would ever not be represented on the academic council. The Senators are all jumping to zero but I am not jumping to zero. Actually what it says is, "such number of students of the technological university as it considers appropriate". That could be two, four, six-----

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As the students are already on the governing body, they will have a voice. They have a voice on the academic council and it will be up to the governing body to decide how many students.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: They are a very strong voice in education and higher education.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Did the Senator say "dramatical" or "grammatical"?

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Senator would win on that score.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On page 27, section 28 sets out the detailed eligibility criteria to be complied with by institutions that wish to become technological universities. I assure the Senator that we are not lowering the bar. This will be a step-change in education and in institutes of higher education right across the country. That is what we want. The criteria are based on the original criteria set out in...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have heard Senator Coffey's arguments. We have gone a long way on this road now. We have been talking about technological universities for many years. I believe the proposal was withdrawn in 2015. We went back to the drawing board. Since then, we have consulted all the various stakeholders. I have had heard the same message I have heard from Senator Coffey from Senator McFadden in...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The figure for Waterford is 7,550. I know this argument has been made previously. I stand to be corrected. The figure for Athlone is approximately 5,000.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I think the Senator is arguing against himself when he says that.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I ask the Senator to let me explain. There will now be a university offering in Waterford, Carlow and Wexford, all joined as a consortium. Students will be able to choose whether they want to go to a university in their own region. The last time we debated this issue, Senator Coffey pointed out strongly that many students never come back. That was pointed out to me strongly when I served...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, there is.