Results 8,621-8,640 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman and members for facilitating this session. I know we will try to get through a significant amount of business today, both the motion before us and Committee Stage of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022. I will, therefore, keep my opening statement short. Today is a significant day for the people of the south east and higher education in the region. We are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Cathasaigh and the Chairman. I wish to acknowledge - I have never had cause to do so previously - Deputy Cullinane, who has been very active and helpful in the context of this project. The points made in respect of resources and leadership are valid and important. I can come back to the committee for a discussion on resources for technological...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I agree with you, Chairman. I know Senator Malcolm Byrne could not be here, but it is only fair to acknowledge the role he played in chairing the cross-party groups. I wanted to say that in his absence. One of the keys to success when we got stuck at various moments was the fact that most people did not play politics with this issue - no political party did - and I wish to acknowledge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I am getting the trickiest questions at the end. I thank Senator Flynn for her work and how it relates to my Department. I assure her there is an open door policy in my Department in respect of her work. We want to do whatever we can to learn from the Senator's work on diversity and inclusion. I found her recent address to the Dáil inspiring in regard to these issues and we are eager...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: On the Seanad, I will get into all sorts of trouble no matter what answer I give. My starting principle is that I do not believe the franchise for either House should be linked to university qualifications. I cannot speak for the Government on this matter, but that is my view. How can I tell? We talk about apprenticeships and an apprenticeship is a third-level qualification. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: -----that did address as an interim measure, and I think this is the nub of the Senator's question, the extension of the franchise to graduates of other higher education institutions. That sounds like a sensible short-term step to me, but I will get a more substantive response for Senator Flynn because policy responsibility for this area, to the best of my knowledge, lies with the Department...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I should flag that I am considering an amendment to section 1 for Report Stage. It does not relate to this matter, but I believe I am meant to put on record that section 1 is proposed to be revised in regard to collective citations. It is largely a technical matter but this legislation is dealing with the Universities Act, the Technological Universities Act, the Institutes of Technology...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for tabling amendments Nos. 2, 4 and 94. I will deal with the two issues they relate to. I will deal with the matter of the "relevant body" in a constructive fashion and I suggest that if we need to tease through it more on Report Stage, we can do so. I am informed that the term "relevant body" is already defined in section 36(7) of the Bill in the same manner as the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I very much see the Deputy's intention. I accept her bona fides on this and I am not trying to be argumentative about it. One of the purposes of the Bill, however, is to provide a pathway to become a designated institution for institutions that are not currently designated as such. We could pick a number of examples throughout the country. What if a private college wished to become a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: That is not our intention.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Ó Cathasaigh and Ó Ríordáin for proposing the amendments to this section, which are amendments Nos. 3, 9, 123, and 124. The short answer is I am happy to work with the Deputies between now and Report Stage to see how we can strengthen the legislation in respect of this matter. As is often the case on Committee Stage, we can highlight all of the reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: In relation to funding under the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. The Department Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has not engaged the company in question in respect of the services it provides from 2nd August 2020 to date in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: My Department is not aware of any contracts in the sector with the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the training rate paid to an individual attending training as a carpentry apprentice in Finglas training centre is being investigated and compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. Please see table below which provides the details requested in relation to the supply of Covid-19 related face masks and face coverings for my Department.  Face Masks and Face Coverings – D/FHERIS Supplier Total ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed on the 2 August 2020. Please see table below which provides the details requested in relation to the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser for my Department.  Hand sanitiser – D/FHERIS Supplier Total Bunzl Cleaning &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I aware of this group  of Irish students, and a number of others, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion.  I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies. My Department is in contact with a group of over 50...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Community (22 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: I welcome the publication of the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community last November. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Deputy and other members of the Joint Committee for their work in highlighting issues affecting members of the Traveller community and for the publication of this comprehensive report. I understand that...