Results 7,101-7,120 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 38: In page 34, line 26, after “environmental” to insert “development and” .

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 39: In page 34, to delete lines 29 and 30 and substitute the following: “(m) social, economic and cultural requirements, including the requirements in higher education for the promotion and use of the Irish language of students who are enrolled in primary schools and post-primary schools which provide education through the medium of the Irish language, with...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 43: In page 35, line 37, to delete “in consultation” and substitute “following engagement” . I will first speak to my amendments in this group, amendments Nos. 43 and 46, which I have tabled in an attempt to respond to amendments from Opposition colleagues; namely, amendments Nos. 44, 45, 47 and 48. This is the debate around...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 46: In page 36, line 1, to delete “in consultation” and substitute “following engagement” .

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I would like to explain why I do not propose to accept the amendments in this grouping. I am not proposing to make amendments to the Bill around the inclusion of a specific reference to the comply-or-explain principle or references to the provision of an adequate explanation for non-compliance. It is considered that the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022 at present reflects the...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 30: In page 25, line 8, after “report” to insert “under section 23”. I think there are 19 amendments in the group. I do not expect they will detain us for very long because they are very much technical or typographical. The group includes cross-referencing, grammatical and formatting amendments. Amendment No. 30 amends section 21(9)...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: We had a good discussion on this on Committee Stage and I further checked and cross-checked it. The reality is that I am accountable to this House on policy matters. What we are proposing here is a standard provision. Amendment No. 31 proposes to remove section 28, which is the accountability of the CEO to other Oireachtas committees. Section 28(9) states: "In the performance of his or...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 32: In page 29, to delete lines 33 to 38, and in page 30, to delete lines 1 to 26 and substitute the following: “30.Notwithstanding the repeal of the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 by section 5(1), a person who was an officer or servant of An tÚdarás appointed under section 14(1)of that Act, immediately before the commencement of section 7 shall...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 63 is my amendment in this group. It is grouped because this amendment is one I indicated I would make following on from Deputy Ó Ríordáin's representation and advocacy on Committee Stage. My amendment addresses amendment No. 64, if I may put it like that, because it amends section 46 to include provision for the HEA to consult "members of the staff of...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies and, in particular, Deputy Conway-Walsh, for the acknowledgement that we moved on representation for the governing authorities. That was an issue that the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, and others, pursued. I engaged with the TUI at its national congress in Wexford a few weeks previously on that point. I am not minded to accept these three amendments. To be blunt,...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy might do that, but that is for a different debate. I think we agree on this. I know we both believe education is a public good which means it should be funded through the public purse. We already have a levy on employers who pay into the national training fund. We have a contribution fee which I want to see reduced. My thoughts on that are well known and I am working...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 16: In page 16, to delete lines 21 and 22 and substitute the following: “Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks, and outside of such Areas, Towns and Networks, with regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language.”.

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I sincerely thank the Deputy for the good work we have all been doing together on the promotion of cross-border education and viewing the island of Ireland in relation to student mobility and opportunities. The establishment of the technological university in the north west, the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, presents a great opportunity in relation to Magee Campus of the University...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 23: In page 18, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(4) The Minister may publish guidelines issued by him or her under subsection (1)in such manner as he or she considers appropriate.”. On Committee Stage, I stated that I would table an amendment on Report Stage on the publication of guidelines under section 12. Some Deputies,...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I will respond on a point of agreement. We need to be much better at workforce planning in the public sector. Very shortly, the Minister for Health and I will jointly bring forward proposals with regard to workforce planning for the number of medical graduates we need. I take the point Deputy Conway-Walsh initiated with regard to teacher training and recognise Deputy Ó...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I am not in a position to accept these amendments. I will take the opportunity to outline why. With regard to No. 11, in the name of Deputy Conway-Walsh, I will be really clear that I too want to see a dramatic improvement with regard to precarious employment in the sector, as do the Government and everybody else in this country. We have to acknowledge that it is a real issue and I do....

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Ríordáin for their engagement on this topic. I am not in a position to accept the amendments but I will clarify why and let the Deputies know of the work we have done. This Bill does not affect the autonomy or academic freedom of universities or any other higher education institution. I would defend to the death the importance of academic...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I said on Committee Stage that, implicitly or explicitly, I have no interest whatsoever in the privatisation of the higher education system. We have recently taken decisions in respect of funding higher education recognising that it is a public good. The absolutely clear policy agenda is to support and enhance publicly funded higher education institutions. As the Deputy, in fairness,...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 3: In page 11, line 29, after “Act” to insert “, other than sections 85, 86, 87, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103* and 105**". This point will not come as any surprise to the Dáil because it arises from our discussions on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 3 is on the provisions relating to the incorporation of educational institutions into...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “ “Act of 2011” means the Student Support Act 2011;”. All of the amendments in this grouping are in my name. Amendment No. 4 is a technical amendment to the interpretation of the Student Support Act 2011 into the Bill. Amendment No. 132 provides the Minister with the...