Results 4,121-4,140 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

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

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State for his clarification.

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 122: In page 54, subsection (1), line 28, to delete "or a learner, as the case may be,". There is some confusion on my part. I agree that the authority should recover any amount due and owing to it under the section from the provider, but how could it recover money from the learner? Perhaps the Minister of State might supply guidance. The idea of an authority pursuing...

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

Sean Barrett: Is the Minister of State saying that we can recoup money from a learner who has fraudulently obtained a qualification? I do not understand the point made he makes. Why would the authority want to pursue a learner who pays money into the system to get an education, which if unsatisfactory means we might owe him or her money? The learner might in that regard have engaged with a bad provider....

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

Sean Barrett: So it relates to a person who received an award but did not pay the relevant fee.

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

Sean Barrett: Perhaps we should consider doing away with that tradition on Report Stage.

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 127: In page 58, subsection (2), line 24, to delete "and this Act shall apply accordingly". We have discussed this issue. The amendment attempts to state that where quality assurance procedures exist already under section 35 of the 1997 Act they shall continue to apply. The Minister of State has dealt quite comprehensively with this already. It is my wish to ensure...

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 135: In page 62, paragraph 2(2), line 22, after "Minister" to insert ", with the advice and consent of Seanad Éireann".

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

Sean Barrett: Amendment No. 135 seeks involvement of the Seanad in this process. Some Members of the Seanad represent the universities. As stated by the Minister of State the current system appears to be based on whether people were consulted and the chief executive is restricted from commenting on Government policy and education. I acknowledge we have already discussed this issue and thank the Minister...

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

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State and the chairman proposal is very good, although he might consider including board members in the next round as well. The chairman is one person and if all members were subject to the scrutiny, it would be an advance in transparency. I commend the start of the operation.

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 138: In page 63, paragraph 4(3), to delete lines 22 and 23 and substitute the following: "(3) The Minister, subject to due process, may at any time remove from office a member of the Authority if it has been proven that—". This was a worry and the Minister of State and other Members have acknowledged that it is a bit draconian for something concerned with education,...

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

Sean Barrett: I will not delay the House further because this is the amendment we have been discussing for much of the time. Section 28 should be deleted. It is entirely unnecessary. There are universities with degrees dating back hundreds of years which are internationally accepted, have high international status, attract international staff and have high rankings for citations, etc. I was not sure...

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 37: In page 25, between lines 40 and 41, to insert the following subsection: "(5) In carrying out a review under subsection (1) of a recognised college the Authority shall consult with the University of Dublin.". It is slightly different, that the authority "shall consult with the University of Dublin". The previous discussions related to Trinity College. That is a...

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

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State for that. If it is not broken, do not fix it. If the external examination from abroad likes the course, if people want to study it, if people come from abroad to study and the lecturers are publishing research, that is the quality assurance procedure in a two-minute nutshell. There is no need to have anything further using up public money and people's time. I...

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

Sean Barrett: Please continue.

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

Sean Barrett: I withdraw the amendments.

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

Sean Barrett: I accept the Minister of State's point on amendments Nos. 122, 125 and 126.

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

Sean Barrett: Section 38(4) states: Each awarding body in the State shall, in respect of each award the body makes that is recognised within the Framework, ensure that a learner acquires the standard of knowledge, skill or competence associated with the level of that award within the Framework before an award is made. It is being done already. That is the point I have been making since the debate began....

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

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. I believe we have gone completely the wrong way. The important part is the lecture hall, not the quality office. I do not know what the quality office is supposed to do in each place; it is irrelevant. I heard a description of one of the quality offices recently as a self-licking ice-cream. It is an múinteoir who is the important here. That is what...

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

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State and Senators Averil Power, Jim D'Arcy and Fidelma Healy Eames. I agree with the Minister of State that this debate makes the case for the development of the Seanad rather than its abolition. My degree is from TCD, with some validation by the State. If some people think they are better at this, why do we not have a QQAI university? We will take them on any day...

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

Sean Barrett: They are not necessary. With regard to previously established universities, the courses are up and running. If somebody says to my good friend, Professor Brendan Kennelly, that the quality board does not think he is good at poetry, he will say, "So what? Everybody else thinks I am good." The lecturing staff I know have to turn downs shoals of international invitations to give lectures;...