Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Grafton College teachers to the Public Gallery. I reiterate how sorry we all are at the situation in which they find themselves given the recent and sudden closure of the college, which, as stated by Senator Ó Ríordáin and others, highlights the issues we had already flagged through these amendments. I commend the work of Unite, the union with whom the Labour Party worked on this issue. I note Senators Ruane and Norris and others have also worked with that union. This recent closure of a college is another glaring example of the lack of regulation in a sector that so badly needs regulation. We know that there has been a series of closures of private language colleges, leaving not only students teachers and other staff in those colleges high and dry. I support the call of my colleagues for the Minister of State to accept some of these amendments. Senator Ruane has set out eloquently which of the amendments are preferable and which we intend to press if the Minister of State chooses not to accept them. I think the Government should accept at least some of them.

There are two issues, the first of which is the short-term one concerning the immediate future of staff who have just been let go. I note that the Minister of State has already met some of them and she has indicated a willingness to meet them again, which is welcome. Similarly, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, has indicated a willingness to meet them, which is also welcome. The staff and all of us have a strong interest in ensuring that this does not happen again. The second more long-term issue is to ensure adequate regulation of the sector and adequate protection of the rights of workers and students within the sector to make sure it remains sustainable because otherwise we will come to a point where it will be impossible to recruit prospective students or staff for colleges.

I again appeal to the Minister of State to accept some of the amendments. As I said, we are happy to withdraw some of them in the interests of ensuring others are accepted such that better protections are put in place. Also, we all reserve the right to bring further amendments on Report Stage if we cannot progress this issue now.