Results 37,741-37,760 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I find myself in agreement with the Deputy, not in where we are placing it in the legislation but in respect of what he is trying to achieve. As I flagged on an earlier Stage in this debate, we are engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, as we should be, to ensure this legislation not just complements our legal obligations but complements also the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes regarding where best to place what he is trying to achieve in the Bill. We will engage with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and share with the Deputy their view on that. My gut instinct is that we would definitely strengthen what the Deputy is endeavouring to do if, when the Minister of the day is being...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 24: In page 16, line 19, after “nationally” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, including the educational and skills needs of persons in Gaeltacht areas (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012) and outside of such areas with regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 25: In page 16, line 25, after “education” to insert “and training”. This is an amendment to section 9(1)(h). It is simply to include a reference to higher education and training. We all talk about greater integration between training and higher education, and this is simply to reflect that in the legislation.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 26: In page 16, line 27, to delete “across all disciplines” and substitute “in all disciplines”. These are two drafting suggestions. The amendments amend section 9(1)(i) which states: "promote, support and fund excellent research in the higher education system across all disciplines in accordance with national research policy and in...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 27: In page 16, lines 27 and 28, to delete “in partnership” and substitute “in co-operation”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 31: In page 16, after line 40, to insert the following: “(m) assess the performance of funded bodies with regard to securing value for money in the expenditure of funding provided to them by An tÚdarás under this Act,”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 33: In page 17, line 5, after “section 14,” to insert “including in relation to the funding required for higher education,”. The amendment changes section 9(1)(n) to read as follows: "advise the Minister in relation to national policy on higher education in accordance with section 14, including in relation to the funding required for higher...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 34: In page 17, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(o) co-operate with An tSeirbhís with regard to the establishment and operation of an Office called the National Apprenticeship Office whose functions shall be to manage, oversee and develop a system of apprenticeships,”. Amendment No. 51 is in the name of Deputy Conway-Walsh. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 36: In page 17, line 6, after “education” to insert “(including with regard to the provision of student places and the enrolment of students)”. This amendment is consequent to the debate on Second Stage. It further strengthens cross-Border, North-South co-operation by providing that it should include "the provision of student places and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: Absolutely, it is. I am sorry, but I should have acknowledged that this amendment arose from my engagement with the Deputy. I thank her for that. The amendment is adding to paragraph (o) which begins with "promote co-operation and collaboration with regard to higher education". It was silent on whether that meant student places and enrolment of students. We have now added that to be...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 37: In page 17, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(p) without prejudice to paragraph (o), promote co-operation and collaboration with regard to higher education (including the provision of support and funding for projects and initiatives) with authorities having responsibility for higher education in places outside the State, including the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I agree 100% with the Deputy. The reason that the points are separate is to reflect the importance that we attach to all-island co-operation.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy's analysis of the situation which is ground in fact. She is entirely right. We were very pleased in the horrific situation that has been Brexit to protect cross-Border education but more needs to be done. I mean that we need to get an understanding as to why students from the North are not choosing to study her and vice versa. One of the arguments that I have put...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I wish to put the following on the record of the committee. In terms of the Deputy's work as a rapporteur, I would be interested in sharing that information with my Department. We would be interested in engaging with her on this matter. We are looking at what are the practical barriers that need to be removed.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: In an effort to be helpful I will consider this proposed amendment. I have sought legal advice. In terms of the publication of "any direction issued" by the Minister, I need to get legal advice on whether that is possible. In terms of "guidelines to be published", that sounds eminently sensible to me so I may either introduce this amendment or a similar amendment following further...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: What would we do if we do if we did not have Conradh na Gaeilge? It is clear from my engagement with all Deputies on this series of amendments that it has been very proactive in respect of the Bill. I do not think anyone in the history of campaigns has got 100% of what he or she is seeking. Conradh na Gaeilge has managed to make a lot of progress. The Deputy is correct. There are areas...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy might qualify on many. The amendment will make the promotion and use of the Irish language visible to the Minister of the day when he or she is going to fill the board. It will very much put that on his or her radar. I believe it is quite significant and Conradh na Gaeilge does too. I am pleased we have been able to do that. That is the agreement bit. Where I do have a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: To be helpful, there are two things. While accepting it is not where the Deputy wants to get to fully, reading the wording in the Bill, the change is significant in that the Minister of the day is being told by the legislation that "members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister [of the day] from among persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and...