Results 281-300 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, because I want to put the following on the record. It is not the intention for a technological university to necessarily replicate a traditional university. However, a student at a technological university should have opportunities, nonetheless, to engage with disciplines and concepts that go beyond the technical focus of his or her immediate study. Universities and technological...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Level 10 is PhD level.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In addition, because the technological universities will have a focus on the preparation of graduates for business and enterprise, it is provided that up to 10% of staff who bring the equivalent of a level 10 qualification in terms of expertise and experience can be included in the 45% threshold. In addition to this 45% threshold, the criteria go on to provide that there must be a clear...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am going to say more than one sentence.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I do not see any value in adding the word "research" before "programme" on line 3 of page 28. The Technological Higher Education Association, THEA, which is the body representing those relevant institutions seeking to attain technological university, TU, designation works closely with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, to build research capacity within the country as a whole and in a...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The comments are unfair. The 60% and 40% definition relating to a research student in this Bill is an inclusive approach that reflects current institutional practice in both Irish universities and institutes of technology. It also reflects the way the word "research" is used in the context of the national framework of qualifications. The term "research student" is relevant with respect to...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In this way, the concepts of research, research student and resulting awards are used in an inclusive way to accommodate the range of activities that support original and innovative work in the whole range of academic, professional and technological fields, including the humanities and traditional performing and other creative arts. They are not used in any limited or restricted sense but...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We are not.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I did not say anything about this amendment.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This is a matter first and foremost of linguistic interpretation. The Department has consulted the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, which drafted the current text. It is the view of that office that there is no ambiguity in the current wording.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The general data protection regulation, the GDPR, will come into force on 25 May 2018, and will replace the existing data protection framework under the EU data protection directive. Article 24 of the GDPR requires controllers, namely, higher education institutions, to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure and to be able to demonstrate that the processing of...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will ensure that the officials meet the different institutions and that this will be on the agenda.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am glad the Senator has put down this amendment, not that I am accepting it, but because it is important to say in the House that there will be different pathways into education. I have 31 years' experience in education and I know, and have met, many students who have matured as they have gone through education, who have come through colleges of further education and gone on at a later...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Among the key targets for 2019 and 2020 in that framework is to sustain the expansion from under-represented groups with 2,000 additional enrolments from socio-economically disadvantaged groups and 1,000 from further education. It is not advisable to put specific targets in primary legislation but I assure the Senator there will be ongoing reviews and we will make sure there are multiple...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Section 30, page 31, sets out the information: "An application by applicant institutes under section 29shall include information — (a) demonstrating compliance by the applicant institutes with the eligibility criteria". Section 28 sets out the criteria in detail and makes it clear to the applicant institutions and any assessment panel what criteria must be applied and measured in...
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the House for its consideration of this crucial legislation on higher education. Some Senators will be disappointed that amendments on student representation, the structure of the governing body and various other elements were not accepted, but my officials and I considered those matters long and hard. Indeed, many officials have been considering this matter down the years,...
- Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: One minute and 19 seconds.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Feb 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Hear, hear.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Feb 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Withdraw the comment.
- Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The definition used in the Technological Universities Bill is in line with the Universities Act 1997. On the composition of the governing authority, section 16(2)(d)(iv) refers to "students of the university who are elected officers of the Students Union or other student representative body in the university recognised by the governing authority". Trade unions and staff associations are...