Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An issue has arisen with regard to these amendments, which apply to a number of sections in the Bill. The issue is academic freedom, how much it can be applied and how much an t-údarás can do to deal with that issue. The Minister will be aware of the issues that have arisen. I am not talking about any specific institution. We have to be careful about how the objects laid out in section 8 apply throughout the Bill. In what way will an t-údarás take serious action to ensure that we maintain academic freedom within universities, third level institutions and so on? We are aware of the Confucius institutes that exist in universities throughout the world and the funding that comes with them. We are also aware of the danger that any state, particularly China, can wield, either subtly or directly, through those institutions. It is tremendously important that this Bill, the Minister's Department and an t-údarás make sure they have robust procedures in place to ensure the academic freedoms and academic independence of all third level institutions, particularly those in receipt of funding from China.