Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I congratulate Senator Barrett for bringing forward this Bill and all the thought he has put into it. The Minister has introduced many reforming Bills in his three years in office and in time, they will have an enormous impact on education and training across a range of areas. With third level education, the Minister has engaged in wide consultation and review of the entire sector, with a view to further enhancing the already excellent sector, including the institutes of technology and universities. Senator Crown referred to the fact that we are not top of the pops any more, as we have no universities in the world's top 50. The quality of teaching and learning in our institutions is a concern, and we must consider how well educated are our young people when they must fit the modern world. This is relevant to our new training centres, further education institutions, institutes of technology, universities and other third level training institutions.

As I indicated, Senator Barrett's Bill is very welcome, and such is the research and rational thinking evident in his work that it can only contribute greatly to the whole debate. We will not oppose the Bill on Second Stage.