Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 9 seeks to clarify the meaning of higher education.

In regard to amendment No. 10, when the Bill states "in part provided by the person" we licence, it is important to quantify it. This is an area for charlatans. Some day when I have obtained a licence, I will contract out to a figure of 98% and the licence will hold. I do not think we should give a person with that mentality the chance to do that to us.

There are subcontractors who are no adornment to higher education either.

That brings me to amendment No. 10. During the contributions of Senator Power and other colleagues on the Opposition benches, there has been much discussion of the importance of how universities are evolving. Undesirable elements have been introduced in the Bill and some of the definitions are not as rigorous as they should be. In the spirit in which the Minister has approached the debate, I will not press these amendments. An important thought process has begun and Senator Crown has contributed handsomely to it as well. I did not point out in the Minister's presence that the last medical school was set up in Limerick. It is an important necessity to have one there, but we have a large number of medical schools, as Senator Crown pointed out.

I will not move amendments Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive. There is a good deal of material to return to on Report Stage. I thank the Minister.