Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to oppose the amendment. I want to note, however, that, because there is an amendment, it would not delay the Bill to any great degree if further amendments were introduced on Report Stage. Given that the House, I assume, will be accommodating this amendment proposed by the Government, it would be good if there was genuine engagement between now and Report Stage regarding potential improvements to strengthen the Bill. To be clear, any amendment that might be made on Report Stage will not delay the Bill in any way because the Bill will have to go back to the Lower House for confirmation in any event as a result of the Government amendment. It will not delay the process. In fact, it could massively accelerate process if there were Government amendments. In that context, I would be very open to withdrawing my amendments in favour of Government amendments that address the same core policy issues and the concerns that exist.

In the context of the legislation relating to the Higher Education Authority, HEA, the Government made amendments in the Seanad that were widely welcomed by the academic community and the higher education community. There are simple amendments, particularly in areas such as parity of esteem, the environment, respect for workers rights and standards in research employment which could be made to this Bill and which would improve it and mark it as having been the subject of genuine engagement in the context of the legislative process.

I am open to engagement. Many stakeholders are open to and hoping for engagement between now and Report Stage. For the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, this is probably the most important and largest item of legislation that will go through during his tenure. It would be regrettable if there was no response to the observations, constructive proposals and suggestions that have been made, not only by myself but also others. I am hoping we will have constructive engagement. As I said, the amendments that were made to the legislation relating to the HEA improved it. What happened in that instance showed a willingness to engage that we need to see again.