Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I got the distinct impression in the other House when we made additions to the legislation in relation to environmental sustainability and climate that there was a view we had strengthened the legislation. I do not generally name-check colleagues but Deputy Ó Cathasaigh did significant work on this on Committee Stage to get it to a better place than I concede it was at when the Bill was published.

Amendment No. 2 proposes to include a definition of the United Nations sustainable development goals in the Bill. This definition is linked to the proposed amendment to section 2(3), which defines "environmental development and sustainability". A number of amendments were made to the HEA Bill on Report Stage in the Dáil which strengthened the provisions related to sustainable development in climate change, including the addition of the definition of "environmental development and sustainability" in the Bill, which was carefully considered and developed through the legal drafting process.

I heard reference to the Brundtland report and Senator Higgins raised this with my officials yesterday. We have engaged with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure that Department is satisfied with the appropriateness of it and it is. The report of the United Nations Brundtland commission defined sustainability as "meet[ing] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". This definition encompasses the environmental aspects as well as the socioeconomic factors and is the most widely used and internationally accepted definition. The definition is also referenced in our national strategy on education for sustainable development 2030, which we launched last week or the week before. I am not in a position to accept this amendment.

I said in the other House that section 143 of the legislation allows guidelines to be developed in relation to climate action and environmental sustainability. A fair few Deputies said that was all well and good but asked how I would guarantee that when the legislation passes the guidelines follow. Accepting that we live in a climate emergency, I took the step of writing to the HEA in advance of the Bill passing - I can provide Senators with a copy of that letter if I have not already done so - specifically asking it to prepare to commence work on guidelines for sustainable development for designated institutions of higher education. The HEA is aware that the first guideline and code we want it to produce under this legislation relates to environmental sustainability, climate action and climate justice. I am using section 143 of the Bill, when enacted, to put in place what I think the Senator is trying to achieve, but through the guidelines and codes.