Results 2,761-2,780 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

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

Ciarán Cannon: This amendment clarifies the provisions relating to the protection of enrolled learners that apply where a learner has paid money or has had money paid on their behalf to a provider for a programme of education and training even where the learner has not begun the programme. This is important in ensuring that protection is extended to all learners who have paid fees to a provider.

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

Ciarán Cannon: We have an effective international education unit operating in the Department of Education and Skills which is constantly liaising with its partners internationally - I had an opportunity to visit a number of those partners recently - and concerns raised at those meetings are acted upon immediately. We have very strong links with the embassies based in Dublin and we liaise with the...

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

Ciarán Cannon: This is a minor technical amendment.

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

Ciarán Cannon: It is not proposed to establish the appeals panel in conjunction with academic councils or any other institutional body, as the appeals panel must be independent in its operation. Making a link would compromise its independence. However, this is not to say it will not have the requisite expertise to adjudicate effectively on an appeal.

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

Ciarán Cannon: In the past year the Government has gone a long way towards improving the procedures governing how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies. However, the appointment to bodies such as the appeals panel is normally exercised by Ministers. On that basis, I do not support the proposition that we involve the Seanad in the selection of the panel's chairperson.

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

Ciarán Cannon: This section deals with the dissolution of the existing statutory bodies which are being amalgamated. The Irish Universities Quality Board, IUQB, is not a statutory body; therefore, this legislation will have no role in winding it down. It was established as a company by the universities which I understand intend to wind it up after the authority's establishment, as it will have no further...

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

Ciarán Cannon: The IUQB is a limited company established under the Companies Act. Even if we wished to do so, it is not possible for legislation to seek the winding down of a company which was independently established by the universities. If we were to pass such legislation, there would be nothing to stop them from forming a new company 20 minutes later. There is no reason to include the amendment. It...

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

Ciarán Cannon: This amendment is to clarify what information on arrangements for the protection of learners should be included in the register of providers, which is important from a learner's perspective.

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

Ciarán Cannon: This amendment is technical in nature and requires that the database must include information on who reviews the provider's quality assurance procedures.

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

Ciarán Cannon: On Senator Barrett's amendment, while all other fees provided for in the Bill are paid by providers provision is already made for a fee payable by a learner in respect of the granting of an award by the authority. Learners already pay fees, although not substantial, to FETAC and HETAC for this service. It is proposed to retain this provision. On that basis, it would be difficult to accept...

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

Ciarán Cannon: No.

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

Ciarán Cannon: There is no provision for tuition fees in the Bill as that is not a matter for the authority. In some instances, learners - I have attended a few award ceremonies at which FETAC and HETAC certificates were awarded - pay a small fee to partially cover the cost of the awards process. These would not be described or deemed to be tuition fees. They are simply fees associated with receipt of an...

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

Ciarán Cannon: It is a graduation fee.

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

Ciarán Cannon: I do not believe the authority will be chasing learners around the country for a fee associated with an award. In most instances, the fee is paid prior to granting of an award. I do not believe there will be ongoing policing in this regard. We are incorporating into the Bill a provision which already exists in FETAC and HETAC certification, which has been the tradition for a number of years.

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

Ciarán Cannon: These amendments are necessary to ensure continuity for providers regarding procedures established under the 1999 Act, which are now being repealed by this Bill. A number of the provisions of the 1999 Act are already saved in this Bill. These amendments seek to ensure all relevant provisions are now transitioned. The amendments also provide for the transition of reviews or validation of...

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

Ciarán Cannon: The framework is being transition, not the amendment.

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

Ciarán Cannon: Yes.

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

Ciarán Cannon: The Government has made significant process in reforming the process whereby people are appointed to State agencies and boards. A new process has been introduced whereby the relevant Oireachtas committee will have the opportunity to question the proposed chairpersons of State agencies, which is welcome. We have also introduced a system of open expressions of interest for positions on State...

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

Ciarán Cannon: I would not envisage that such a serious move would be undertaken by any Minister on a whim, and this is a standard provision in the establishment of State agencies or authorities where the Minister has the power to remove a member. I do not expect the current or any future Minister to be overly draconian in the operation of that authority. The three reasons for removing a person are pretty...

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

Ciarán Cannon: This is a minor technical amendment to delete the word "or" at the end of in 13(3)(b).