David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is also excellent. In that respect, I wish to ask the Minister about rationalisation. The College of Catering was threatened with certain proposals on amalgamation and so on. It is an interesting building, one of three significant art deco buildings in Dublin. Another used to house the then Department of Tourism and Trade and houses a magnificent sculpture by an Irish woman. The old Gas Company building on D'Olier Street, now the Trinity school of nursing, is the third.

I commend the Minister for something stated in the explanatory memorandum, namely, that the purpose of the Bill is "reforming and modernising the governance provisions, removing outdated terminology and articulating the functions of the boards". Such a statement should be found throughout all legislation. It is a pity the Minister is not in charge to do a Code Napoléon, as much legislation needs to be refined and made accessible. Arcane terminology needs to be removed, as will be done under this Bill. For that reason, the legislation is welcome.

I welcome the mention of SOLAS. The name change was intended to disinfect it, but even in its pre-fumagated state, I have a fondness for it, as it did valuable work. Some of the people at the top certainly behaved irresponsibly; there was wastage and moneys were unaccounted for, etc. It was a scandal. However, I cannot speak highly enough of the troops on the ground, given my experience of them. Perhaps the Minister might comment on the effectiveness of reform in SOLAS. Its staff need to be encouraged. In the regenerated SOLAS, some words of encouragement would be good.

The Bill will provide for good and necessary education, which should be respected. There should be no snobbery because one is a university and another is a vocational education committee, VEC. That would not be appropriate. They are different and separate, yet equally necessary.

I support my colleagues who suggested that having student representatives on the boards would be a good idea. I am unsure as to whether the Minister has made provision in this regard. If not, perhaps he might. There were no student representatives during my time as an undergraduate at Trinity College Dublin, but that was one hell of a long time ago. The measure was introduced during my time as a lecturer. It gives young people an added degree of responsibility and perspective on governance and administration. Often, they go on to do valuable work in the community based on that experience. It would be a valuable addition.

I wish to raise a matter that is not at all relevant to the Bill. I expect that I will get away with it, as I am in my last minute and the Cathaoirleach told me previously that this would be the day on which to raise it because the Minister would be present. I pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Sean d. Barrett, who first alerted the House to Trinity College Dublin's astonishing and deplorable decision not to host the Church of Ireland school of education. The school will be hosted in Dublin City University. If there is a secular university, it is DCU. What nonsense is TCD playing at with the name, "the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth"? I do not share the suspicions of some peculiar minority groups that believe the Labour Party and all of its Ministers are a bunch of wife swapping, sodomitical, compulsive, militant secularists. If they were, I am not sure I would disagree with it.