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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 163 No. 24

Private Business. - The Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill, 1997: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage.

As private Bills are not a very frequent occurrence in the House, before we resume Report Stage I would like again to point out a procedural matter to Senators. In accordance with Standing Order 117 of the Standing Orders relative to private business, the Leas-Chathaoirleach has a supervisory role in relation to the proceedings on the Bill but he is not in charge of the Bill in the accepted sense as, say, a Minister is in respect of a public Bill.

I also remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. On Report Stage each amendment must be seconded. I now call Senator Dardis to resume his contribution on amendments Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:
In page 3, lines 8 and 9, to delete "AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN ARE" and substitute "IS".
–(Senator Dardis).
Mr. Dardis: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his clarification of Standing Orders. We will abide by Standing Orders. One of the central difficulties about the Bill was the degree to which the Standing Order was abided by. I do not contest the fact that the Standing Order was changed. It was changed but nevertheless it was germane to it.
It is not necessary to repeat what was said on the last occasion we debated the Bill. It is all contained in Vol. 163, No. 1, of the Official Report of 18 April 2000. I am pleased that the reservations expressed on the previous day and the difficulties which were highlighted have been resolved satisfactorily, as far as I am aware. Hopefully we can dispose of this matter quite quickly.
I stand by the proposition that it is the responsibility of Parliament to give close scrutiny to any Bill, whether it be a private, Private Members' or a Government Bill. We fulfilled that obligation and it is notable that the committee cautioned us that references to the University of Dublin be examined further. That is what was done on the previous day.
I want to emphasise that there is no animosity on my part or, as far as I am aware, on the part of anybody else in the House, towards Trinity College. We are deeply conscious of its tradition and I sought to defend that tradition on a previous occasion. I vigorously reject the proposition put forward by Senator Henry that there was an attempt to humiliate anybody. That would not be my intention nor the intention of anybody else in the House, but as far as I am concerned the college failed to address certain issues. We sought to highlight that and the matter, from my point of view and hopefully from the point of view of everybody else, is now closed. I fully appreciate that some of these issues may wind up in the courts and it would be improper of us to intrude into that area given the separation of powers.
We can now progress to dealing with the amendments and on that I would like the guidance of the Chair. Am I to understand that each of the seven amendments in my name and the name of Senator Keogh are being taken together? It will be interesting to see how Senator Keogh will vote in the event of a division on these amendments – we hope we can avoid that embarrassment.

The amendments are being discussed together.

And they will be moved separately?

Amendment agreed to.

We now move on to amendment No. 1a. Amendments Nos. 3a and 6a are related. Amendments Nos. 1a, 3a and 6a may be discussed together, by agreement. I now call the Leas-Chathaoirleach to move amendment No. 1a on behalf of the promoter.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move amendment No. 1a:

In page 3, line 11, after "1592") to insert "granted".

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, to delete lines 24 to 29.

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 4, lines 39 and 40, to delete "and the University of Dublin".

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move amendment No. 3a:

In page 5, line 5, to delete "Trinity College, Dublin" and substitute "the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin established by the Foundation Charter of 1592, and shall be held to include the University of Dublin save where the context otherwise requires in accordance with the charters and letters patent relating to Trinity College".

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 5, to delete lines 20 to 22.

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 5, to delete lines 30 to 33.

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 6, line 15, to delete "and the University of Dublin”.

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move amendment No. 6a:

In page 8, line 6, to delete "Trinity College Dublin" and substitute "the College".

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 8, lines 7 and 8, to delete "and the University of Dublin".

I second the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move: "That the Bill, as amended, be received for final consideration."

Question put and agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

Would the House be agreeable to taking the Fifth Stage today?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move: "That Standing Order 111 of the Standing Orders relative to private business be suspended for the purpose of enabling the Fifth Stage of the Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill, 1997, be taken today."

Question put and agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I move: "That the Bill do now pass".

Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 4.10 p.m. and resumed at 6 p.m.
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