Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Senator will come back in but how we define social classes and how we envisage that working is the question I had.

Amendment No. 156 proposes to include an additional provision that an t-údarás shall have regard to in assessing the demand for higher education at regional and national level. We believe this is covered by the provision in section 34(3)(d)(iv), which references issues of equality, diversity and the inclusion of students in priority groups and persons in those groups seeking to become students in higher education.

Amendment No. 212 proposes to have representative organisations to which the Equal Status Act applies. We are trying to keep it a little more flexible. There is already very clear provision in the legislation in respect of consultation with other bodies or persons as necessary. I am not sure it would be necessary to consult everybody covered by the remit of the Act on every matter. Some matters will quite simply not be relevant to some grounds of that Act. It could very much vary from case to case.

The matter of equality versus equality of opportunity and equality versus equity is a real issue. There is a difference between equality and equity. There is definitely a difference between equality and equality of opportunity. I am not convinced this is the right part of the Bill in which to address that. Again, I am not being particularly argumentative. This part of the Bill relates to equality statements in and of themselves. There is a very good discussion to be had about equity and access. I would argue we have dealt with that in other parts of the Bill. The Senator may argue we have not done so well enough. That is a legitimate debate to have.