Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Grace O'Sullivan, Gavan, Ó Ríordáin and Craughwell for raising the issue. I assure them we have heard the arguments and argued with the officials about what the best option is. We want the student voice to be heard in technological universities. I am hoping to go through some of the points the Senator made and show why we are rejecting them. I hope the Senator will give me attention.

Senator Higgins referred to other legislation. The definition used in the Technological Universities Bill is in line with the Universities Act 1997. Section 16(2)(d)(iv) of that Act states that in the composition of the governing authority there should be "students of the university who are elected officers of the Students Union or other student representative body in the university recognised by the governing authority". That is already included in the Universities Act 1997.