Results 7,761-7,780 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, line 27, to delete “(including the promotion and use of the Irish language)”. My amendments and those of Deputy Conway-Walsh endeavour to achieve the same aim, relating to the promotion and use of the Irish language and strengthening its provision across the sector, although we may have different views on how best to do it. Amendments...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank all the Deputies for their work in this regard. This is an example of where the work of a committee makes a difference. Sometimes people only see the ruaille buaille in the Dáil Chamber and set pieces during the day, but it is the detailed, collaborative cross-party work that gets done in committees that sometimes genuinely improves legislation. It does not just improve...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 8: In page 15, line 29, after “agility” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such support shall include the promotion and use by those institutions of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for submitting the amendments, outlining his rationale and engaging with my officials on the matter. For the record of the committee, I will state the factual position as of now in the legislation. It is noted that conditions of funding apply when Exchequer funding is provided to a funded body. As the Deputy has alluded to, there are not conditions relating...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 11: In page 15, line 31, to delete "value-for-money from" and substitute "value for money in". Amendments Nos. 11, 21 and 200 are in my name. I do not think they are controversial and I will take the Deputies through them. Amendment No. 11 is a technical amendment to align the wording of section 8(1)(c) with section 9(1)(c). We are changing the word "from" to the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: We have a different view on this in that I see the benefit in the value for money. I take the Deputy's point on what value for money is and value for money is not defined in that sense but the analysis of it is entrusted to the HEA. The HEA's board is appointed under legislation with an accountability back to this House through me and through the likes of the Committee of Public Accounts....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Ríordáin for their contributions. I wish to be clear in respect of wanting to develop, enhance and protect a public higher education system. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh referenced the funding discussions on how to sustainably fund higher education. I intend to bring proposals to Cabinet, likely this month, in that regard. I look forward to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I accept the need to address the issue of precarious employment, and the need for the HEA and funding institutes more broadly to be active in this space. I accept that and I know they would too. However, I do not believe this is the appropriate place for this amendment in legislation. Due to where it would be in the Bill, and the Bill it would be in, it would not achieve what the Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. To be very clear, academic freedom is something on which we are all agreed. It becomes more important by the day. To be very clear in relation to democratic values and everything else, academic freedom is the law of our land and remains so. There is nothing in this Bill that in any way dilutes, modifies or changes the reality that academic freedom is fully and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 20: 20.In page 16, to delete lines 10 and 11 and substitute the following: “(c)secure and evidence value for money in the expenditure by An tÚdarás of moneys provided to it under section 19,”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I find myself in agreement with the Deputy, not in where we are placing it in the legislation but in respect of what he is trying to achieve. As I flagged on an earlier Stage in this debate, we are engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, as we should be, to ensure this legislation not just complements our legal obligations but complements also the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes regarding where best to place what he is trying to achieve in the Bill. We will engage with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and share with the Deputy their view on that. My gut instinct is that we would definitely strengthen what the Deputy is endeavouring to do if, when the Minister of the day is being...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 24: In page 16, line 19, after “nationally” to insert the following: “and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, including the educational and skills needs of persons in Gaeltacht areas (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012) and outside of such areas with regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 25: In page 16, line 25, after “education” to insert “and training”. This is an amendment to section 9(1)(h). It is simply to include a reference to higher education and training. We all talk about greater integration between training and higher education, and this is simply to reflect that in the legislation.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 26: In page 16, line 27, to delete “across all disciplines” and substitute “in all disciplines”. These are two drafting suggestions. The amendments amend section 9(1)(i) which states: "promote, support and fund excellent research in the higher education system across all disciplines in accordance with national research policy and in...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 27: In page 16, lines 27 and 28, to delete “in partnership” and substitute “in co-operation”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 31: In page 16, after line 40, to insert the following: “(m) assess the performance of funded bodies with regard to securing value for money in the expenditure of funding provided to them by An tÚdarás under this Act,”.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 33: In page 17, line 5, after “section 14,” to insert “including in relation to the funding required for higher education,”. The amendment changes section 9(1)(n) to read as follows: "advise the Minister in relation to national policy on higher education in accordance with section 14, including in relation to the funding required for higher...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 34: In page 17, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(o) co-operate with An tSeirbhís with regard to the establishment and operation of an Office called the National Apprenticeship Office whose functions shall be to manage, oversee and develop a system of apprenticeships,”. Amendment No. 51 is in the name of Deputy Conway-Walsh. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 36: In page 17, line 6, after “education” to insert “(including with regard to the provision of student places and the enrolment of students)”. This amendment is consequent to the debate on Second Stage. It further strengthens cross-Border, North-South co-operation by providing that it should include "the provision of student places and...