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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Bill, 1999: Report and Final Stages.

On Report Stage, amendment No. 1 is in the name of Deputy Richard Bruton.

In view of the lateness of the hour and the valuable debate we had on Committee Stage, I do not propose to move my amendments. I accept the Minister will make an effort to accommodate these in the future, but the Bill would have been better if we had adopted what could be described as a more green field approach and tackled some of the anomalous provisions in the old Act.

Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

I thank the Minister for the debate which at times wandered off the subject. Nonetheless it was a useful debate about a sector of our education system which has been exceptionally successful and which we should be keen to see develop in a very constructive way. It is very positive that the Minister will be coming back to the House with an order establishing clearly the mandate the Oireachtas seeks to give to the new Blanchardstown institute. We look forward to the introduction of that order later in the year and I thank the Minister for the constructive approach he has taken to the Bill.

I too compliment the Minister on his constructive approach throughout the debate. He made a more than reasonable effort to allay the various concerns expressed on this side of the House. It falls to me to wish him well with the legislation as it moves on through the Seanad and is passed into law. Obviously, we wish the new institute of technology every success in growing and playing a significant part in the growth and development of the Blanchardstown area.

I thank the Deputies for a very constructive and enjoyable debate during which new insights were advanced. I welcome the constructive ideas that came forward. I look forward to the successful operation of this institute and hope it will have a fundamental impact on activity and performance elsewhere within the system.

Question put and agreed to.
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