Results 7,461-7,480 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the Senator described it, it is the situation in universities. Perhaps the appropriate solution is to look at how students' unions are treated and defined in the legislation on other universities. Students' unions within institutes of technology have a slightly different standing from those within universities. It is important in the process of creating new universities that students in...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is my right to respond with two follow-up questions.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Certainly. The Minister of State highlighted a key concern and perhaps it will be the resolution we will come to on Report Stage. In the Universities Act, "elected officers" are referred to. That is a key point because it is an element that is not present in this Bill. The definition of "student" is included in a subsection of the Bill but the question of the students' union, an election...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: An elected officer is the key issue. It is something that is included in the Universities Act but not here. Perhaps it is where we will find a resolution. Amendment No. 4 addressed the concern raised by the Minister of State and others when it referred to the recognition by the institute or technological university. There is the capacity there. Amendment No. 3 is strong and I like it but...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We will withdraw it but reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4:In page 9, lines 34 to 36, to delete all words from and including "means" in line 34 down to and including "university" in line 36 and substitute the following:"means an autonomous body governed by students and recognised by the institute or technological university which promotes and represents the interests of students, both individual and collective". I move this...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, but I am pointing out that I am moving it with regret and feel I have to press it. It is the best compromise on the table and takes on board the Minister of State's concerns. I understand she is unable to support it now, but I am happy to revise it and bring forward a revised version. However, it is important because there is a key principle involved. I was so disappointed that the...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not speak to the amendment because we can discuss the issue of access points and apprenticeships when we introduce amendments later. However, I will echo one point made by Senator Craughwell, namely, that we must be clear and underscore the fact that the institutes of technology are also in the humanities. Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology has a centre for creative arts,...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To be clear, no one is against the idea of entrepreneurship being supported by institutions. Rather, the concern is with how it is worded in the Bill. Had paragraph (IV) read "supporting entrepreneurship", none of us would have raised a question. The paragraph sends a strong message, one that effectively permeates and affects the rest of the Bill, as Senator Norris stated. Under this...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think we have all read the Bill. I followed with interest all of the sections the Minister of State highlighted. There is so much of what she referred to in the Bill. Not only is it mentioned throughout the Bill, but I acknowledge that the Minister of State has personally shown an interest in other forms of innovation such as social innovation, creative thinking and new ways of looking...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is the current wording not confining?

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Senator Norris has not proposed this amendment so is free to bring any amendment he wishes on Report Stage.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, there are a number of amendments that I have co-signed. This is not an amendment that I have co-signed. It is an amendment which I read, looked at it on its merits and responded to. I am absolutely free, if I wish, to put an amendment of my own in respect of similar issues on Report Stage, as indeed is Senator Norris. The only person whose question and decision it is in terms...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----these amendments when they were circulated and I responded. Anyone is free to table an amendment on Report Stage.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is fundamental. We are setting a potentially dangerous precedent. The Chair has mentioned subject matter, and that an amendment that has been rejected may not be brought back. However, in the first sentence the Chair made it clear that amendments must arise out of the discussion on Committee Stage. If we discuss things on Committee Stage, we absolutely have the prerogative to put...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----amendment. Senator Norris's amendment is entirely-----

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----eligible and my completely different approach, which would be to remove the word "ethos" and substitute the word "supporting" entrepreneurship, is another approach that has arisen from the discussion today. They are absolutely within our rights. It is important that we should not set a wrong ruling on that.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to be clear.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in expressing real regret that these amendments were ruled out of order. They were very constructive and sought to ensure a voice for students from each of the different campuses affected. From our perspective, I recognise that there was an amendment from the Labour Party in respect of ICTU and an amendment from Senator Grace O'Sullivan in respect of academic representation....

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A single sentence states that it may be looked at for consideration should a similar amendment arise. I do not see that the amendment necessarily increases the representation. Maybe it is something which could be examined. It simply specified the nature of the academic representation, which is already accounted for in the existing numbers. I accept my amendment is out of order, but I...