Seanad debates

Wednesday, 6 July 2022

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

10:00 am

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I certainly think it should be clear, as does the Minister, that the student voice should be recognised in all cases. That voice should be heard through the democratically elected students' union within the institution and the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, at a national level. As the Minister outlined earlier, it is obviously key within this legislation that there is very specific provision for a USI representative on the board of an t-údarás and enhanced and clear student representation with regard to governing bodies. It has been made clear and the Minister has been very strong in terms of recognising the student voice. It should also be acknowledged that Government policy has been about recognising the student voice, particularly around these issues. I would even cite the recent decision of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to appoint the president of the Irish Second–Level Students' Union to the board of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The Minister is correct in listening to the partners in education at all times and the USI is the representative body for students.

In the same way, in terms of engaging with this legislation, the representative voice for universities is the Irish Universities Association and for the technological sector it is the Technological Higher Education Association. I know the Minister has engaged extensively with them. Those are, therefore, the voices that need to be listened to on this legislation in terms of representative organisations. With regard to Trinity College Dublin, the provost speaks on behalf of the institution. Indeed, with regard to all the other institutions, it is their presidents and governing bodies. Those are the representative structures that speak on behalf of the institutions. In the context of this legislation, I know the Minister has listened to all those from the real representative bodies and has taken on board extensively their amendments.

I was almost pleasantly surprised that I did not have to propose too many amendments because of the number of amendments the Minister took on board during the Dáil debate. A very valid point was made by colleagues, however, because an issue arose historically with one institution around the representation of students on the governing bodies by people who were not democratically elected student representatives. That problem arose but I will not go into that detail.

I am certainly open to this; it is something the Minister might look at considering on Report Stage. To have a clear definition around the provision that representatives must be elected by the students is important. That said, it must be acknowledged very clearly that this legislation very much strengthens the student voice right throughout. It is a big leap forward from both the 1971 Act and the Universities Act 1997.

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