Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to clarify something very briefly. I spoke about amendment No. 7 but it is actually amendment No. 8 that specifies matters with regard to the elected body. To be clear, it is amendments Nos. 6 and 8. Amendment No. 8 specifies that it must be an elected body.

On the question of representation, the fact remains that there will be less student representation within many institutions under this legislation. There is a lack of union representation.. When we talk about other representatives, the fact that they would have previously had a representative is a matter of very significant concern, for example in universities in Galway, Cork and elsewhere. Previously, a mayor would have been a public representative who comes from a place where universities play a really fundamental role, as they do in some of our towns and cities. Indeed, a local public representative, such as a mayor, may have sat on boards of governance in those situations. I know that concern has also been flagged. We have, therefore, a number of layers of representation to discuss. I want to clarify the core amendment, however. I referenced amendment No. 7 but it is amendment No. 8 that specifies that it must be an elected body. Again, the Minister heard the importance of that point across the House.

I will make two final points on amendment No. 211. I spoke about the equality statement and we discussed equality and diversity in our institutions and within each institution. I really regret the loss from the previous HEA provisions of the mission statement around recognising the importance of diverse institutions across Ireland with distinct missions. It is not just about diversity and equality within each institution, but also the fact that our academic institutions are diverse and, in many cases, will have distinct missions. It will not be always the case that one size fits all in that regard. That is just to clarify amendment No. 211.

As the Minister, Deputy Foley, has been mentioned, it strikes me that if we were to give more time to this legislation and give proper time between Committee Stage and Report Stage, perhaps we would be able to take on board things that may be discussed in the planned citizens' assembly on education, which is the plan for having a national public discussion on education. It seems a little pre-emptive to make such radical changes to our higher education system before we have a citizens' assembly on the matter.