Vol. 512 No. 1
112 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the fact that automatic masters of arts and other masters degrees are being granted at Trinity College on an automatic basis; and his views on standards arising from this recognition and the inequality between that university and other universities and institutes of technology. [22195/99]
The freedom of the universities to make awards was underpinned in the Universities Act, 1997, where section 13(2)(a) sets out that one of the functions of a university is to award degrees and other qualifications.
Trinity College Dublin allows bachelors of the university of at least three years standing to proceed to the degree of master in arts. The awards that Trinity College make on this basis, are limited to master in arts. All other masters degrees are awarded only to those who have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate degree programme, either taught or by research. I understand that relatively few have availed of the opportunity to purchase the master in arts award. I also understand that there is no additional recognition to holders of such an award as a result of the receipt of such an award.
I would expect that in the development of a framework of qualifications, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland would not add any additional recognition to holders of such masters awards over the degree that they attained at least three years previously and, accordingly, I do not consider that there is an inequality here.
