John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanism that is in place to deal with human resources legacy issues arising from the amalgamation of the institutes of technology to the new technology universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12779/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The TU Act sets out that employees shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of service, including terms and conditions as they were subject to immediately before the amalgamation of an Institute of Technology into a new Technological University. 

Any human resource legacy issues that were relevant to an Institute of Technology or new human resource issues arising after the amalgamation to a new Technological University, are dealt with through the established HR/IR channels. 

Higher Education Institutions are required to have policies in place to address employee human resource issues and those particular policies have been negotiated and agreed with both employer and staff representative bodies, so as to ensure fair and equitable procedures are in place to protect the rights of staff and employers.  Where disputes exist, there are a number of industrial relation mechanisms and supports available to assist employees in seeking resolution, such as staff fora, conciliation and mediation.

While it is important that I recognise the autonomy of Technological Universities, higher education institutions are obliged to comply with all relevant employment legislation and adhere to practices that are set out in statue.  I’d encourage both sides when resolving disputes, to use the supports that are available in the sector and the wider labour relations machinery to reach a positive outcome.