David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support these amendments by my colleague, Senator Barrett. Amendment No. 2 gives a clear definition of something of which there is no definition in the Bill, which is extraordinary in a Bill which deals with higher education and gives definitions of an t-Údarás, Appeals Board, authorised provider of education. It even defines the Minister but does not define higher education. That is a gap. Amendment No. 3 proposes that universities be defined as bodies specified under section 4 of the Universities Act 1997. There is no definition of universities but there is a pre-existing definition in primary legislation, in the 1997 Act.

It would seem to me to be perfectly logical and coherent, therefore, to include the definition enshrined in the 1997 Act in this Bill, particularly in the absence of any definition by the Minister.
Amendment No. 6 refers to, "The specified purpose referred to in subsection (1) is to enter into an arrangement with any person outside the State ...". I would recommend to Senator Barrett that if he is reinstating this amendment for Report Stage, which seems to be the tactic he is adopting, he would include also "person or institution" rather than just leaving it "any person" because having battled against personhood on the one hand, he cannot be seen to be endorsing it too strongly on the other, but I agree with it. I also agree with the idea of removing "marketing". It is a bit crass for a university that it is all about marketing, jobs and so on.
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, is a very fine institution but it has not distinguished itself in its relationships with states in the Middle East, for example, about which there has been considerable controversy, and its adamant refusal to stand up for its own graduates being persecuted in Bahrain. One would have a number of worries in that regard.
Putting in "higher education institution" and a "majority" of the programme are amendments that tighten the focus of the legislation and I recommend them to the Minister. I will be interested in her comments on the matter, particularly with regard to the question of "person".