Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has used the flexibility offered by the 1999 Act to work with international counterparts. We have seen a number of examples of this happening. Section 9(1)(m) sets out as a general function of the authority that there be co-operation with international bodies. A similar general function in the 1999 Act allowed the authority to develop partnerships and a memorandum of understanding with peer regulators in other jurisdictions. For example, an agreement has been put in place with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the United Kingdom to assure the activities of UK awarding bodies operating in Ireland. This has enabled bodies such as City & Guilds to align awards with our national framework of qualifications. It is only when this arrangement remains in place that recognition through the framework can take place. The exercise of this function is most flexibly covered through the policies and procedures of the authority. On that basis, it would be difficult to support the inclusion of a separate process in the Bill. The framework as a whole is continued in the Bill and includes all existing awards, including those of international bodies. Any agreements in place will not be compromised in any way by the provisions of this new Bill.