Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have an amendment in this group. I apologise on behalf of Senator Warfield, who would normally be dealing with this legislation. Amendment No. 53 relates to trade union representation on the board of the HEA, academic and non-academic, respectively. The absence of specific reference to trade unions throughout the Bill has been addressed by a number of amendments on Committee Stage, which we welcome. However, it is important that they are represented on the board of the HEA as well as on governing bodies of individual institutions. The inclusion of trade unions on higher education institutions' governing authorities is welcome, but this Bill establishes the HEA with new legislation so it appears to be a mistake not to include trade union representation on the board of the HEA.