Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and commend her on her engagement. As Senator Higgins said, there was huge engagement on the part of the Department in respect of the Bill. That is to be welcomed because it is a better Bill as a result. This is important legislation. The Minister of State said it is "critical legislation for the higher education sector and another important step in the advancement of the National Strategy for Higher Education." Senator Grace O'Sullivan rightly indicated that it is about ensuring the management of the change that will evolve is done properly. I fully agree with the Senator and the Minister of State that this must be done in consultation and in the context of a holistic approach. It is very important to get it right from the outset. I am very confident that the approach being taken by the Minister of State indicates that she will do this.

Engagement with staff and students has been critical. The Munster technological university will add to the local economy. It will bring a benefit to the south-west region. In an earlier debate, Senators discussed jobs. This university will add to the south-west region, especially Cork, from where I come. It will make the area more desirable to come to, to locate in and to live in. It will offer different opportunities for people.

With regard to Cork and Tralee institutes of technology, the technological university will offer more competencies and it will bring a value to research. We are aware that in the higher education structure research has never been so important. As Senator Coffey has referred to it must be more than just the changing of the branding over the door or on the letterhead. I am confident that it will be more.

I have had meetings and correspondence with a variety of stakeholders, one of whom was from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. I am very familiar with some of the ICTU representatives in Cork who, I believe, are very capable, competent and sensible people. These representatives are speaking about the composition of the external seats on the governing body. They make a fair request about looking for a seat. I wonder if this could be looked at again at a later stage.

We all welcome the debate on this Bill. It is about progressing to technological universities. It is about ensuring that we have competencies and a better higher education structure. Concerns have, however, been expressed to me about the composition of the academic council in the Munster technological university and the proportionality regarding the Tralee and Cork institutes. I understand the Minister of State may not have the answer today - that is fine because I do not expect her to have it - but I hope it would be a proportionate composition in the case of Cork and Tralee.

Cork Institute of Technology engenders a sense of positivity. I congratulate the college and the staff on the growth of the institute, and on its ambition. The issue of the academic council is an important question that has been raised with me. Cork Institute of Technology has always been progressive. If we look back to when it was a regional technical college, and see where it is now with the growth and what the college has done, it is a huge credit. it is an important institution in Cork.

I do not wish to speak disparagingly about anybody, but the deficit and the questions and anxieties need to be addressed around Cork and Tralee ITs. I am Cork person, and I will speak for Cork. It is very important. The issue of apprenticeships also needs to be addressed as part of the Bill. During the Order of Business in the Seanad we hear repeatedly about the need for apprenticeships. There is a competency issue in that regard.

The Bill and the creation of the technological universities will benefit graduates, colleges and the economy. I may not agree with Senator Higgins on many things but I agree with her comments to the effect that the details need to be teased out on Committee Stage and Report Stage.

I could say a lot more but I shall conclude. I appreciate that I may have spoken for more than my five minutes. I will speak on the Bill again on Committee Stage. The Minister of State has demonstrated a willingness to listen and to engage. I am aware that the Green Party has spoken about this issue in the Dáil but the Minister of State deserves great credit for getting us to where we are today. I thank her for that. We have a road to travel. There are issues around the students' union that need to be looked at, that I personally agree with. The Minister of State may not be able to do something on that, but that is fair enough. We are, however, in a good place with this Bill and it is to the credit of the Minister of State that we have go here. The Minister of State has engaged with the TUI, academics, students and staff. I commend all who are involved, especially the staff. I have spent a long time waiting to say this and I wish to speak on this. We lost the Bill in 2015 when the general election came around. It is important to say that there was huge engagement-----