Results 4,161-4,180 of 9,820 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: We are creating universities here. It is probably one of the most important tasks we will ever do as Members of the Oireachtas.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, but I am proposing a way to deal with all the amendments and the issues we have all raised regarding them and that pertain to the section. We cannot ignore the section and the specific items that have been raised by individuals. I propose that the Government, having discussed the amendments with the Parliamentary Counsel and the officials, would come back to us with a draft proposal...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Funchion has just spoken to amendment No. 23, has the Deputy not?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: My concern with all these individual amendments is that we are all ticking the boxes with individual sectors that we all have been talking to people in, and they are all very good in their own way, but, with respect to the point I made regarding the previous grouping of amendments, we need to have a comprehensive approach. I have no difficulty with Deputy Funchion's amendment. I have an...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: We have proposed a deal on the area of science. The earlier point I made about communities is relevant here as well. The Parliamentary counsel may have advised the use of the word "community" but they are communities and perhaps the phrase to be used should be "the diverse communities", which would cover nearly everybody. It is almost as if professions, business and enterprise are first,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I ask that all the amendments, including those proposed by the Minister, be withdrawn on the basis that the Minister of State has agreed to table further amendments on Report Stage. If we agree to withdraw our amendments on the basis that the Minister will table an amended text on Report Stage, the Minister of State should also withdraw her amendments. Deputy Funchion and I have already...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: While it is a matter for the Minister of State, my view is that none of the amendments to this section should be passed at this stage on the basis that she has agreed to table a comprehensive amendment on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I, too, oppose the amendment on the basis that all amendments to the section should be withdrawn.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I suggest that the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel take account of all the comments made on the proposed amendments, including Government amendments. I ask that we be shown a draft of a new section 22 before Report Stage. The parties could then agree to support the section and avoid any hassle.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 25:In page 19, line 34, after "with" to insert "students, staff,".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 27:In page 19, line 34, after "professions" to insert ", the Irish language, cultural, artistic community".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 28:In page 19, line 40, after "stakeholders" to insert "with due regard to the opportunities presented by basic research for scientific discovery".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 30:In page 20, line 11, after "subsection (4)" to insert "and section 23".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 36:In page 20, line 29 to delete "and social" and substitute ", social, scientific and technological".

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 42:In page 22, line 12, after “staff” to insert “, or a student”. This is an important section on academic freedom and my amendment seeks to include students. If the Minister of State believes students should not be included, I am willing to hear the case. The case has been made by the students’ unions that they need this provision....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I accept the Minister of State's response. It would be a bit odd if the Universities Act was different in this regard and I see the Minister of State’s point. I do not see the need for the amendment. If someone can point me to international examples between now and Report Stage I will reconsider, but the Minister of State has made a convincing case.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: Trinity College and, perhaps, the institutes of technology, have policies on academic freedom which go into some detail on the issues of students responsibilities and rights and also the fact that postgraduate students inevitably will have more rights than other students. In my view, it is too complex to provide for this in legislation. I do not know if it is stated anywhere in legislation...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: There is a vote in the Dáil.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I agree that term limits should apply to the presidents of these institutions. Some people have suggested that the limit should be seven years. This amendment proposes a limit of ten years. I think there are good reasons for this proposal. Term limits are standard practice in the original universities. I think the Provost of Trinity College has a term of ten years, which is considered to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I am sorry.