Results 6,821-6,840 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Why did they not form a Government?

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: They did not have the numbers.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Let her finish. We would like to hear it. We might hear the plan.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Time for a trip to Australia.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Send them our best in Australia. Tell them we are asking for them down under, at €3,000 a dinner.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is trying to dissolve the Dáil.

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: It is an elongated way of getting to the sound bite.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators for engaging. I join with Senator Malcolm Byrne in thanking my officials for also engaging. There has been engagement between Committee and Report Stages. I acknowledge the good faith with which Senators have engaged and thank them for it. This is an issue we have been grappling with, particularly in view of the fact that the purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the role...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: That is partially the case. It is our view, based on the legal advice we have, that the definition to be inserted in this legislation is too narrow compared with the existing definition. As the Senator will be aware, the Universities Act, the Technological Universities Act, the National College of Art and Design Act and the Institutes of Technology Act will travel with this legislation and...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator. I got the distinct impression in the other House when we made additions to the legislation in relation to environmental sustainability and climate that there was a view we had strengthened the legislation. I do not generally name-check colleagues but Deputy Ó Cathasaigh did significant work on this on Committee Stage to get it to a better place than I concede it...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: That was a lengthy list of amendments. I thank the Senators for taking me through the amendments. I will start on research while it is fresh in my mind. I have announced our intention to bring forward a research Bill close to January 2023. That will be a really important opportunity. It will be the first time that the State will introduce stand-alone legislation relating to research....

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I assure Senator Craughwell that one of the great strengths of our sector is that there is regular, open, critical comment and dissenting views. It is one of the very healthy things about higher education and the university sector. Whether one is a university president, trade union representative or student union representative, it is a very can-do and collaborative sector, but it is also...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: That is true.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: I note Senator Higgins has removed amendment No. 55. I fully agree with her on the principle of using the Public Appointments Service. It is used already in respect of the board and it will be used in the future. It is the policy intent to use it. We just do not believe it is appropriate to put the Public Appointments Service, PAS, into primary legislation. Processes can evolve and names...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department's officials have engaged with SOLAS on this issue and have been informed that currently, a SOLAS statutory apprenticeship requires that in certain designated crafts, apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test. SOLAS are continually reviewing the existing statutory apprenticeships and the matter of colour vision testing will be included in this process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes, 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: Precision ALS, is an ambitious academic, clinical and industry research programme that will provide new insights in our understanding of Motor Neuron Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Precision ALS, which is led by two SFI Research Centres – ADAPT and FutureNeuro – involves world class Irish-based researchers in clinical science, data science...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: The new International Education, Research and Innovation Strategy will be a high-level document setting ambitious yet achievable strategic goals and objectives to 2025 and will play a key role in the promotion of Ireland globally as a centre of excellence in education, research and innovation. My Department launched a public consultation process earlier this year to canvas the views of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to taking a proactive approach to tackling all forms of racial and ethnic discrimination in higher education. Diversity is a key strength of Irish higher education. In recent decades our universities, institutes of technology, and colleges have been transformed, from predominantly national institutions catering primarily for school-leavers, to internationally...