Seanad debates

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Alice-Mary HigginsAlice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The amendments relate to the equality statement. Having worked in a number of sectors prior to my time in the Oireachtas and participated in the development of numerous equality statements, I am conscious that there is a spectrum of practice. In the amendments we are seeking to give guidance to ensure the highest standards in the equality statements that might be brought forward. They take account of the Minister of State's feedback on Committee Stage. The amendments I previously brought forward related to the Athena SWAN process were based on a serious concern that no institute of technology had reached even the starting point of the Athena SWAN process, which had very serious implications not only in terms of gender equality but also future research work. The Minister of State suggested the place to address these issues was included in the equality statement.

The amendments seek to insert the words "and procedures" in a number of places after the word "policy". As when we discussed the Bologna Process, this is about moving from a situation where we state positive policies to providing that when the institutions or new universities send the equality statement to the Minister, they should be delivering on procedures and giving clear indications as to their procedures to ensure equality, rather than simply the policy. In devising amendment No. 16 I tried to echo much of the language used in the Athena SWAN charter. I acknowledge that it is one standard and that others may emerge, but the standards recognised by the Higher Education Authority in its recommendations for universities and higher education institutions are of gold standard; therefore, I am taking the opportunity to transpose them in this primary legislation.My amendment tries to ensure the policy and procedures in place to achieve gender equality in all activities of the technological university including gender equality in academic, professional and support staff roles, as well as gender equality in representation and opportunities for participation, in progression within academia, in the journey through career milestones and in the working environment for all staff and students. I also envisage that transgender students, another cohort recognised under the Athena SWAN charter, would fall within that provision.

In amendment No. 17, I suggesting it would be constructive were technological universities to make publicly available their equality statements. I do not refer to a draft equality statement but to the approved statement after it has gone through an appropriate process. They may choose to do this in any case but I seek the Minister of State's views on this amendment.

My final amendment in this section asks for the publication "within six months of the conclusion of the period covered by the equality statement a report on the progress in the implementation of the policies and procedures set out in the equality statement". Where targets and issues have been identified, we then would have information on what has happened since. None of us wants to see an equality statement being published followed by another one a few years later that is almost identical. We want to ensure that there are ways to measure progress. Perhaps the Minister of State will comment on this matter.

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