Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

"Practical experience assessment procedure".

The technical assessment board will be established under section 19 to assess eligibility for recognition of persons with ten or more years experience in this State of performing duties commensurate with those of architects. Section 20 sets out the procedures for assessment and includes the requirement that an applicant submits to the board a curriculum vitae providing details of the work carried out by him or her in the field of architecture, information on projects carried out during the ten-year period of practice and a file containing at least four projects for which the applicant was responsible. The documents submitted will be subject to independent verification.

These are not onerous requirements and the people we have in mind would have no difficulty in meeting them. Architects who operate professionally and provide good services should have no concerns with regard to meeting the requirements. I hope Senators will acknowledge that the provisions clearly demonstrate practical experience will be fully considered as part of the assessment process. Moreover, the criteria set out in section 20 are fair and transparent. It will be the responsibility of the technical assessment board to operate in a fair and equitable manner. The legislation provides for that in a complete manner.

Amendments Nos. 19, 49 and 51 are technical amendments consequential to the new definition of the term "practical experience assessment procedures" in section 2 and have been recommended by the Parliamentary Counsel. The amendments will apply to categories of architects and surveyors who undergo technical assessments.

Amendments Nos. 43, 50 and 52 are consequential and arise from the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel following Second Stage debate in this House.