Results 301-320 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I remain of the view that the current definition which is in line with that contained in the Universities Act 1997 is preferable.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: An order under section 36 of the Bill will provide for the establishment of a technological university and the specification for its name. There is no requirement to specify that the technological university will be allowed to describe itself as such, as that is the purpose of section 36. Section 8(2) provides a mechanism whereby any subsequent decision on a change of name from that...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: To clarify, we are talking about deleting everything after the word "functions". That subparagraph at 9(1)(k)(iv) should be read as a composite piece in its entirety. Hence clause (I) requires the technological university to contribute in a very broad fashion to, "the promotion of the economic, scientific [...] and technological development of the State", but also to the cultural and social...

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.

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

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is an outreach facility in Wexford in addition to the facilities in Carlow and Waterford.

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

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Well, there you go.

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

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The reference in this amendment to "NQF level 5" relates to honours leaving certificate qualifications as well as other types of further education qualifications. One would expect many of the students who are coming into an institute of technology to have leaving certificate qualifications. Therefore, they would be at the NQF stage referred to in the amendment. This amendment may have been...