Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2005

Vol. 182 No. 7

University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Minister for Education and Science (Ms M. Hanafin)

Tá an-áthas orm an Bille seo a chur os comhair an Tí. Baineann sé le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe agus a riachtanais chun poist a thabhairt do dhaoine áirithe. Chomh maith leis sin, baineann sé leis an Ghaeilge. Tar éis na mblianta, is gá athrú a dhéanamh ar a riachtanais, agus sin an fáth go bhfuil mé ag tabhairt an Bhille seo os comhair an Tí.

This Bill amends the University College Galway Act 1929 to remove the requirement to appoint candidates competent in the Irish language to offices or positions in the university and replaces it with an obligation to ensure that the strategic development plan of the university contains a provision for the delivery of education through the Irish language. This provision also obliges the president and the governing authority of the university to ensure that this aim is implemented.

While a provision which gave preference in staff appointments to persons who demonstrated competency in the Irish language may have been considered appropriate at that time, it is not at this stage the best instrument for the promotion and preservation of the Irish language. The presence of such a provision in legislation can be seen as creating an impediment to the recruitment of suitably-qualified personnel in the context of a modern university and the many demands which are made on it. In fact, it has given rise to a number of court cases by applicants for jobs who allege that the Irish requirement has been used to discriminate against them. Clearly, it is quite possible that such controversy has unwittingly created a negative image of a language which many of us cherish.

This House is aware of the importance which the Government attaches to third level education and the role it plays in economic and social development in Ireland. When, earlier this week, I elaborated on the additional €1.2 billion investment which the Government is making in higher education over the next five years, I stated that our higher education institutions face many challenges. Central to these is the production of high-quality, skilled graduates at third level and cutting-edge research and development at fourth level. This is essential for protecting and creating jobs and retaining Ireland's competitive edge in the new world economy.

An ability to recruit the best-qualified available personnel is central to meeting these challenges. This is particularly so in the area of science and technology where the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, has had significant success in attracting research funding under programmes such as the programme for research in third level institutions. While many high-level researchers will come through our own education system, if we are to meet anticipated levels of demand and ensure that research in Ireland is at the leading edge of international activity, it is essential that we also attract research talent from abroad. It is anticipated that up to 4,000 researchers will come to Ireland between now and 2013. Recruiting researchers on the global stage is very competitive. In that context, the existing legislative provisions in the 1929 Act would hinder NUIG as it seeks to compete for and attract the most sought after international academics.

Against that background, the president and governing authority of NUIG sought my support to amend the 1929 Act and replace it with a more appropriate wording. This Bill has been prepared in close consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The proposed amendment will replace the original provision with a commitment that the university, in its strategic development plan, will include in its statement of objectives and priorities, a commitment to the provision of university education through the Irish language. I am confident that this amendment strikes the correct balance between the continuation of NUIG's role in the promotion of the Irish language and the need to ensure that NUIG can fulfil the role which higher education institutions are required to play in the realisation of national economic and social development.

I am also confident that the president and governing authority of NUIG will ensure the university's commitment to the Irish language will remain steadfast. The current five-year strategic plan, which brings us to 2008, is evidence of this commitment. It seeks to develop new structures and approaches to support the sustainable development of Irish medium teaching and research activities through, for example, the further development of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, a centre where Irish will be the medium of instruction. This complements the activities of existing university education centres in the Gaeltacht —Áras Uí Chadhain in An Ceathrú Rua, Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim in Carna and Ionad na hOllscoile in Gaoth Dobhair. The plan also promises to support teaching in Irish through the introduction of incentives for staff to produce quality academic material for teaching and-or research programmes as Gaeilge.

NUIG will also ensure that structures and adequate resources are in place to support this. The university will undertake a series of actions to support the development of a bilingual campus, including provision of a diploma in Irish for students and staff alike and the development of cultural and social activities through the medium of Irish. All these actions demonstrate the commitment of NUIG to further enhance its very strong commitment to the delivery of third level education through Irish.

This Bill is also set against the context of the Government's own commitment to the Irish language. The Official Languages Act is clear evidence of its determination to ensure that there is a statutory framework for the delivery of services through the Irish language. The Act specifies some basic general provisions of universal applicability, including responding to correspondence in the language in which it was written, providing information to the public in the Irish language, bilingual publications of certain key documents and the use of Irish in the courts. All third level institutions, including universities, are covered by the provisions of the Act. In addition, under section 11 of the Act, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs may require any body covered by the Act to prepare a draft scheme indicating its plans for the implementation of the Act. NUIG's scheme is now in place with effect from 1 September 2005 and it complements the programme for promotion of Irish outlined in the college's strategic plan.

I emphasise that I am reluctant to see the delivery of third level education through the medium of Irish as being the sole responsibility of NUIG.

Mr. O’Toole

Hear, hear.

Ms M. Hanafin

It is true that Galway has a unique position, but the Universities Act clearly places this responsibility on all universities. It states that one of the objects of a university should be the promotion of the official languages of the State, with special regard to the "preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language." An interagency working group, which was composed of officials from the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Higher Education Authority and my Department has been considering how the development of third level education through Irish can be progressed. I have asked my officials to work with their colleagues in the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs to progress development of a policy in this area. This University College Galway (Amendment) Bill represents a significant step forward in modernising our education system while demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the development of education through Irish.

Ní thógfainn an Bille seo os comhair an Tí muna mbeinn sásta go mbeadh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag leanúint ar aghaidh le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, le hoideachas a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá mé sásta leis an obair atá idir lámha aici faoi láthair chun é sin a chinntiú. Iarraimuirthi é sin a dhéanamh, ach tá mé ag cabhrú léi daoine den scoth a mhealladh isteach go dtí an coláiste ó thíortha eile le cur leis an taighde agus múineadh atá ar siúl san ollscoil sin ar nós nan-ollscoileanna eile sa tír. Molaim an Bille don Teach.

Mr. U. Burke

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, agus tacaím leis an Bhille atá os ár gcomhair. Before I refer to the Bill, it is appropriate I acknowledge the Minister's recent contribution to third level in the context of the budget. She will be aware that on many occasions in this House, and I am sure in the other House, the question of the lack of funding for third level institutions was often discussed and requests were made in this regard. I commend the Minister for taking action at the first opportunity available to her to ensure third level institutions got their fair share of resources.

I read the 1929 Act which provided that somewhere in the region of £12,000 would be provided by way of grant to University College Galway. It was to be increased to £28,000 by 1930 and further increased by increments of £2,000 per annum. Set against the current situation, namely, the allocation of €1.5 billion which the Minister has made available, it puts the commitment to third level in perspective. I welcome that very much.

In her introduction the Minister referred to the unique contribution of University College Galway through its support and commitment to the Irish language. There is no doubt about that. In the past people in certain sections of the college may have been over zealous in the way they presented this, which might not always have been acceptable to the general body of staff or students. The Minister acknowledged that many fine people who applied for positions in the past were rejected because they did not have sufficient competency in Irish to carry out their work.

I was a student there in the mid-1960s. We were not a group that was inclined to protest loudly or organise in any way but one fact which I very much regretted was that a certain professor had a requirement to the effect that honours geography at degree level must be done solely through Irish. There was no alternative way of doing this subject. Due to the professor's origins and what he had been through he wanted to make a statement and this was how it manifested itself. I believe this approach was unfair but that is over and done with now. The approach has changed in the intervening period through the protests of organised student bodies and certain staff who realised the unfairness of the stance that was taken in that instance.

The president and the governing authority of the college have sought this amendment to the 1929 Act for the past three years. The case was presented on numerous occasions to the Minister of the day but it was never taken up. I welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, has agreed to amend this Act. Section 3 of the 1929 Act was a very blunt instrument which stated:

It shall be the duty of the Senate of the National University of Ireland, the Governing Body of the College, or the President of the College (as the case may be), when making an appointment to any office or situation in the College, to appoint to such office or situation a person who is competent to discharge the duties thereof through the medium of the Irish language: provided a person so competent and also suitable in all other respects is to be found amongst the persons who are candidates or otherwise available for such appointment.

I am glad the Minister has decided to eliminate that obligation. The explanatory memorandum states:

The purpose of the Bill is to amend section 3 of the University College Galway, Act, 1929 to provide that the governing authority of the University College Galway must ensure that each strategic development plan of the University contains a provision for the delivery of education through the medium of Irish and that the President and the governing authority of the University are obliged to ensure that this aim is implemented.

People who might doubt the commitment of the college because of the elimination of section 3 of the original Act can be reassured by the contents of the Bill that no diminution in commitment to the Irish language is included. The strategic plan in itself obliges the college authorities to ensure that everything possible can be done in this regard. The main problem in the past is that section 3 of the 1929 Act was strictly interpreted as a recruitment policy. In most cases following recruitment there was no obligation to provide tuition or carry out any part of the work trí Ghaeilge. The proposed new section provides an opportunity and a guarantee that at all times the college will do everything it can to ensure the Irish language will have a prominent place in its activities.

Credit must be given to the president, Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, and the governing authority. In recent years not only are they promoting Irish on-site but they have also indicated their commitment to the Gaeltacht by, as the Minister stated, bringing certain appropriate sections such as research into biochemistry and other disciplines into Carna and other Gaeltacht areas. In the past, Professor Lavelle, brought people on day trips to the Gaeltacht. It was always a highlight of the year because he had a particular stopping point during the day for refreshments. Everybody who went on these trips used Irish for the day. That was the first instance of the college going into the Gaeltacht area and using Irish in that context. At the time this may have appeared an insignificant gesture towards the Irish language but it was very important in the lives of students. I am pleased this commitment will continue on a more formalised basis. Research centres are now located in Gaeltacht areas and Irish is the language of instruction in that environment.

This decision on the promotion of the Irish language is part of the strategic plan up to 2008. It clearly indicates a unanimous agreement by the governing authority of the college to promote the Irish language and eliminate section 3 of the 1929 Act. The Minister is well aware that it is rare to have unanimous agreement in any third level institution where people have various objectives and obligations. More often than not such decisions lead to division among academics with the result that many good decisions are often cast aside.

The Bill is positive and forward looking. I hope that as a result of it a bright future will be opened up for the Irish language and the college. The Minister acknowledged the uniqueness of University College Galway in terms of its disadvantaged location. She pointed out that through the tremendous efforts of its presidents and governing authorities the college has successfully challenged for finance and research personnel to make it one of the best research centres in Europe. Their work has to be acknowledged. The resources that the Minister has committed can further enhance that and will hopefully lead to the further development of the university college. As a result of the introduction of free education, the college's student body has increased rapidly, from 1,800 in the mid-1960s to several thousand students.

I regret the attitude expressed in the inappropriate statement by the Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy, nuair a bhí sé sa Bhruiséil an tseachtain seo caite. While at a function in Europe, he attacked the suggestions made by Deputy Kenny on the future of the Irish language. Most fair minded people will judge for themselves the appropriateness of the Minister of State's statement, which included the following comment:

It is with great disappointment and sadness that I listened to Deputy Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, our main Opposition party, suggesting the downgrading of the Irish language in Ireland, at a time when we have just secured its upgrading on a European level. It has been a strong policy on the part of Fianna Fáil to encourage the revival and ongoing life of the Irish language amongst Irish citizens.

I cannot over-emphasise the inappropriate manner in which the Minister of State put this on the record by speaking at a remove from this country and the verve with which he addressed his remarks to a selective group. He continued:

The language is the core of our heritage and we cannot allow it to be cast aside within the educational system in such a manner. Such a cheap political shot is intolerable and, frankly, unacceptable to the vast majority of a culturally aware electorate.

A statement of that sort does nothing to promote the Irish language. In order to provide balance——

Acting Chairman (Mr. Finucane)

The Senator's time has concluded.

Mr. Fitzgerald

We know from where it is coming.

Mr. U. Burke

Deputy Kenny stated:

As one who speaks Irish, I believe we must acknowledge that our language is in trouble ... We must not shy away from the truth of the matter. Our education system is failing Irish. I want Irish to flourish in every home, classroom and playground and for that reason we must reform how we teach it.

Ms Ormonde

The Senator has gone over his time. It is not right.

Mr. U. Burke

It is appropriate that I mention Deputy Kenny's statement, in view of the fact that we are discussing the survival of the Irish language in one of our universities. I welcome the Bill.

Mr. Fitzgerald

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, agus cuirim fáilte freisin roimh an mBille atá os ár gcomhair inniu. Tabharfaidh an Bille tacaíocht dhlíthiúil don chúigiú tosaíocht den phlean straitéiseach atá á chur i bhfeidhm ag Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, i láthair na huaire. Is é sin plean straitéiseach do na cúig bliana idir 2003 agus 2008.

Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil gach ball den údarás d'aon ghuth ar son an leasuithe seo. Tá suil agam go bhfuil gach Seanadóir cinnte chomh maith go n-éascaíonn an leasú forbairt dhearfach do dhul chun chinn na Gaeilge in obair na hollscoile.

I dtosaíocht straitéiseach uimhir 5, fócas ar dhiminsean na Gaeilge, tá an bhéim ar bhealaí nuálacha agus praiticiúla a cheapadh agus a sheachadadh chun go gcomhlíonfar ar an tslí is fearr ról speisialta na hollscoile ó thaobh tacú leis an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo in ard-oideachas agus i léann.

Ar na tionscnaimh shonracha atá luaite, tá struchtúr nua comhtháite, is é sin, acadamh na hollscolaíochta Gaeilge, á bhunú taobh istigh den ollscoil, chun cláir acadúla trí Ghaeilge a phleanáil agus a chur i bhfeidhm, cláir a bheidh ag freastal ar riachtanais oideachais agus forbartha an phobail.

I welcome the Minister and, especially, her decision to bring forward this Bill. Even though it is an amendment Bill with only two sections, it is extremely important in terms of acknowledging the Irish dimension and ethos in NUIG. It releases, in the absence of a better word, the university to realise its vision, to reach out for its destiny with regard to the quality and excellence of the academic programmes it wishes to provide to its students and to develop its strategies.

This legislation is a response to the second strategic plan by NUIG. The university is midway through the second phase of an ongoing planning programme and it can be proud of the achievements it made since commencing its first formal strategic plan in 1995. Over the past decade, NUIG has developed on many fronts and, with its first class research facilities, improved student services and planned approach, it justifiably attracts significant levels of funding from the Minister's Department. As Senator Ulick Burke pointed out, it can take on the best, not only in Ireland, but also in Europe. Campus facilities have been significantly expanded and a vibrant research ethos has been developed in all departments, on which it is to be commended.

The aim of the second strategic plan is to establish NUIG as a world-class centre of learning and research. That will be worlds away from the university's origin in the mid-1840s as a queen's college. Amidst a blaze of controversy, it was established as a compromise solution to a bitter debate between church and state. Such debates never seem to go away, although we have come light years from those times. For many years, we only had Trinity College, which catered mainly for Protestant students, which led Catholics and Presbyterians to lobby for balance and greater access by students of these denominations to third level education. That campaign resulted in the establishment of three non-denominational queen's colleges, in Galway, Cork and Belfast.

That compromise did not resolve the issue, however, because Catholic bishops objected to the promotion of a non-denominational ethos. They prohibited Catholic students from attending the colleges unless certain demands were met and until Catholic professors were appointed as heads of the disciplines studied by Catholic students. For many years, these objections, as well as the inadequate educational structure which then existed in the west, had the result that student numbers never rose much higher than 100. However, the establishment in 1845 and opening in 1849 of the university was significant for Galway, which was then a small and remote city. Student numbers have since risen dramatically, with 13,000 to 15,000 students now attending NUIG.

That is one example of the transformation in third level participation rates, not only in Galway but throughout the country. The system of higher education has changed since the 1840s and the later introduction of the University College Galway Act 1929. We have moved on greatly since then.

Higher education was an elite and austere system. Our universities were valuable centres of higher learning and reflection, but removed from the ordinary people. There was little or no contact with, relationship with or reaching out to the ordinary people. They did not impinge on the majority of Irish people for whom free secondary education was still decades away. In contrast, Ireland's higher education system now occupies a central place in our national consciousness and enjoys mass participation. Over 50% of school leavers proceed to higher education. In the modern knowledge age it has become vital, as the Minister outlined, for our future social and economic progress. It is no surprise, therefore, that the legislative provision dating back to 1929 is antiquated, out-of-date, impractical and inhibits the progress of NUI Galway. This amending legislation addresses that and aims to set it aside as obsolete.

Ireland's competitiveness in the knowledge age will depend on our ability to support higher value activities and jobs in the emerging knowledge industries such as ICT and the bio-sciences. As the shape of global competition changes, we are no longer seeking to compete on cost but on the quality of our educated workforce, on its adaptability, ability to innovate and create and on the strength of our capacity for research and development. These factors will determine our ability to attract and retain jobs in a highly competitive global environment. The quality of our universities and institutes of technology will be an increasingly important determinant of our success in achieving our national development objectives.

The Government is now embarking on an unprecedented programme of investment in higher education and I am glad Senator Ulick Burke acknowledged that. It targets in a very special way the needs that have been flagged for third level and post-third level education in terms of the knowledge economy and research and development. I welcome the Minister's commitment to that as demonstrated recently when she announced details of a €1.2 billion investment in infrastructure and in supporting change and collaboration in the sector. Plans for a new national research plan will be considered by the Cabinet committee shortly. These will reflect our ambitions to step up Ireland's research and development performance in supporting our national strategic goals.

A high performing third level sector that can produce quality graduates and a top-quality fourth-level system of postgraduate education and research will be essential pieces of our national infrastructure for social and economic development. In that context the provisions of the 1929 Act requiring NUI Galway to give preference to applicants with lrish language competence are no longer relevant but obsolete. They belong to a different age, to divisions of educators in the context of their time. They are extremely inhibiting and impractical and the Minister has rightly decided to set them side and move on in full consultation with and with support from NUI Galway.

The requirement serves no useful purpose for the promotion of the Irish language. That vision, methodology and mindset thankfully belongs to the past. It is an impediment for NUl Galway in competing, as it must for the future, for the best available international research and academic talent. If we are serious about developing international excellence in research and in higher education in Ireland, as the Government's investment plans indicate, our institutions need to be supported in building excellence. For NUI Galway that means being free to attract and appoint the very best academics and researchers.

As the Taoiseach pointed out at the weekend, knowledge is international and intellectual capital is highly mobile. The quality of higher education in Ireland must be measured against the highest standards across the world. In competing internationally, it is counterproductive to place outdated 1920s recruitment requirements on one of our key institutions. In removing this recruitment restriction the Minister's amending legislation reinforces the commitment of NUI Galway to the Irish language and is therefore positive and progressive. The outdated provision is replaced by a commitment that the college, in its strategic development plan, will include in its statement of objectives and priorities a commitment to the provision of university education through the Irish language. This ensures that the language will retain its valued place at the heart of NUI Galway's core educational mission.

NUI Galway welcomes this legislation. It is d'aonghuth, united and unanimous in support of the Minister's action and that is refreshing and good to see. In line with the Minister's vision NUI Galway looks forward to the great challenges and embraces them with courage and commitment. This amending legislation enables the university to compete for staff in an even-handed manner on a level playing pitch. It will support the university's quest for excellence in teaching, research and the promotion and provision of university education through Irish. The Bill is a vote for the future of third-level education in NUI Galway. It is progressive legislation for the university and the Irish language and I support it.

An Cathaoirleach

As Senator O'Toole's microphone does not work could he come to the front two rows?

Mr. O’Toole

If my mother watches Oireachtas Report tonight and sees me in the Fine Gael benches it will give her a new lease of life. It will be her proudest moment. If I cannot be heard I am prepared to do that. Can I be heard clearly enough?

Mr. Fitzgerald

The Senator can.

Mr. O’Toole

Is the sound recorder happy enough? Yes.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire aríst. Tá mé an-sásta tacú leis an Bhille seo. Ba mhaith liom díriú isteach ar rud amháin, is é sin, an píosa atá ráite ag an Aire mar gheall ar an infheistiú ar luach €1.2 billiún. Is cuimhin leis an Aire go raibh an-díospóireacht eadrainn cúpla míó shin nuair a foilsíodh tuarascáil de chuid an OECD mar gheall ar oideachas tríú leibhéil sa tír seo. Do chuireas go mór i gcoinne ruda amháin, is é sin, an píosa a bhí á chur ar dhochtúireachtaí. Ní rabhas sásta go raibh dochtúireachtaí fréamhaithe in ollscoil amháin, cé gur ollscoil thábhachtach í, agus nach raibh na hinstitiúidí teicneolaíochta ann. I am glad that the Minister took my advice on that, and I took some credit in the course of the week when I saw that he had passed all the third level institutions, including both the institutes of technology and the universities. Tá sé sin thar a bheith tábhachtach. I am absolutely delighted with it, agus tá sé an-tábhachtach don mhéid atá idir lámha againn inniu.

Go dtí seo, ní raibh idir lámha againn ach sórt lip service, is é sin, go raibh ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe daoine a fhostú a raibh Gaoluinn acu, ach ní raibh aon fhreagracht orthu an Ghaoluinn sin a úsáid le linn a gcuid oibre. Tá an sórt work plan atá foilsithe ag an choláiste anois as seo amach go dtí 2008 thar a bheith tábhachtach, mar den chéad uair ariamh, tá sé á chur sin go díreach os ár gcomhair. Sa Bhille seo inniu, tá sé de chúram agus de fhreagracht dhlíthiúil ar an ollscoil é sin a dhéanamh. Tá mé an-sásta tacú leis seo. Dar liom, cé nár fhreastail mé ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, gurb í an tseoid is luachmhaire i gcóras ollscolaíochta na tíre seo. Cheapas é sin i gcónaí; is ise an tseoid is luachmhaire agus is gile sa chóras sin. Tá an-chuid déanta aici, go mórmhór le cúpla bliain anuas, mar shampla, fuair sí gradam mar university of the year. Is dóigh liom, le linn na bliana seo, gur cuireadh ar bun an business school nua sa choláiste chomh maith. Idir an dá linn tá Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge sa choláiste ag déanamh an-chuid oibre.

Tá seirbhís den scoth tugtha ag an ollscoil do mhuintir na Gaillimhe, muintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na tíre. Tá a lán scolairí óga, m'iníon féin mar shampla, ag cur na Gaillimhe síos mar chéad rogha agus cuireann sé isteach go mór orthu agus iad ar lorg tithíochta nuair a deir daoine "so you did not get Dublin and that is why you are coming to Galway". Bhí Gaillimh i gcónaí mar an chéad rogha acu.

Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh, as seo amach, an coláiste in ann na daoine is fearr a fhostú agus go mbeidh siad ag cur na Gaeilge chun cinn ag an am céanna so it is no longer lip service. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Ulick Burke, tháinig siad go dtí an cinneadh seo d'aonghuth. The idea of unanimous votes in colleges is astonishing, I did not think such things existed, so tá mé sásta leis sin.

An rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeimid in ann daoine a fhostú a bheidh ag déanamh dochtúireachtaí sa choláiste. Chomh tábhachtach fós ná gur féidir leo leanúint lena chuid oibre — taighde, forbairt agus staidéar eile — dul chun cinn i gcúrsaí eacnamaíochta na tíre tríd an Ghaeilge. Tá sé tábhachtach gur féidir le daoine a chuid oibre a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá sin tábhachtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta gur féidir leo freastal ar an chéad, dara agus tríú leibhéal tríd an teanga. Caithfidh na seansanna a bheith ann do lucht na Gaeltachta a scolaíocht ar fad a dhéanamh tríd an Ghaeilge. Dul chun cinn níos mó ná sin gur féidir leo post a fháil trí Ghaeilge ina dhiaidh sin agus go mbeidh siad ag infheistiú i bhforbairt eacnamaíochta na tíre seo mar go bhfuil siad in ann taighde agus forbairt a dhéanamh tríd an Ghaeilge.

Níl aon bhlúire den Bhille seo nach n-aontaím leis. Tá sé dírithe ar an rud is tábhachtaí. Tháinig sé seo ón Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta agus tá dearcadh ciallmhar ansin ar chúrsaí Gaeilge atá ag teastáil uainn ag an am seo. Níl an Roinn ag caitheamh na mílte euro ag iarraidh Dingle a aistriú go dtí An Daingean gan aon tagairt ar Dhaingean Uí Chúis and that type of nonsense. Níl muid ag cur na mílte euro isteach, mar a dúirt an Taoiseach an tseachtain seo caite, ar fhoilsiú tuarascáil chinn bhliana i nGaeilge nach léifear riamh. Tá sé de dhíth go bhfuil rudaí ar fáil i nGaeilge but that does not mean that we must spend hundreds of thousand of euro every year providing hard copies. There is an in between position. That is an rud is tarraingtí faoin Bhille seo. Tá sé ag díriú isteach go praiticiúil ar an dóigh is féidir leis an ollscoil a cuid oibre a dhéanamh agus a chur chun cinn tríd an Ghaeilge. That is what is happening here, it is sensible and practical and that is an-tábhachtach.

As seo amach agus sin ag plé nó ag scrúdú cad tá ar siúl, is ar dhul chun chinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a ba cheart dúinn a fhéachaint, go mór-mhór i gcomhthéacs an mhéid a dúirt an tAire nach raibh sí sásta go mbeadh cúram ar fad ollscolaíocht Gaeilge a fhágáil ar ghuaillí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. That would be a total ignoring of our responsibilities. Caithfimid bheith cinnte go bhfuil sin ag dul chun cinn i ngach ollscoil. Bhí a lán deacrachtaí ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le 20 bliain anuas ag iarraidh daoine a fhostú agus bhí uirthi dul os comhair na gcúirteanna mar dúradh nach raibh sí macánta ach bhí sí ag iarraidh oibriú laistigh inflexible statute that existed previously. Ní raibh sé solúbtha in aon chaoi. When I say solúbtha, I do not mean that in a pejorative sense of the word but go bhfuil flexibility ag baint leis seo. Tá sin tábhachtach do na daoine atá ag obair.

I gcónaí nuair a bhíonn moltaí os ár gcomhair agus muid d'aon aigne, we come to the curious question of money. Ba mhaith liom go gcuirfear tuilleadh airgid i dtreo Ollscoile na Gaillimhe leis an obair seo a dhéanamh. B'fhéidir go bhfuil Vóta ar leith ann di, níl a fhios agam, ach fiú i gcomhthéacs na Bunreachta, má tá cúram ar leith ag baint le Gaeilge a chur chun cinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, caithfidh go mbeidh acmhainní aici chun é sin a dhéanamh.

It worries me that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is faced by a decision being taken by an Act of the Oireachtas that the new translations required in the Houses will cost far more. We have been asked to do this without being given any resources. We have politely told the appropriate Minister that we will not do it because we do not have the money to do it. Perhaps we can say that but ní féidir le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe an rud céanna a rá. Má tá airgead ag teastáil uaithi, áfach, leis an plean oibre a chur chun cinn, ba chóir go mbeidh sé ann dóibh. Níl mé ag tagairt ar a huge amount ach ba cheart go mbeadh rud éigin ar leith ann di. 'Sí an seod is luachmhara agus is gile i gcóras ollscolaíochta na tíre seo. It has served us well le blianta agus it has served the people of Galway, people of the Gaeltacht and the rest of Ireland who have been impacted by Galway and its college. It has been welcoming to all and has a precious place in Irish third level education agus ba chóir go mbeadh pé acmhainní atá de dhíth ann.

Finally, when we talk about the billions of euro we are investing in third level, it would be mean-minded of us to chase a few teachers around the country because they were decent and principled enough to walk out last week and stand for decency, tolerance and goodness in Irish society. We should unite on this, draw a veil over it and move on. I guarantee the Minister will never collect the money in any case. She should take that with good grace. Other speakers were allowed an aside at the end of their contribution and I have done the same. I will not, however, talk about Deputy Kenny.

Tá mé an-sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille seo. Tá sé an-mhaith. Tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann an Bille a chur tríd an Teach go luath tar éis dúinn filleadh agus ansin dul ar ais go dtí an Dáil. Ba cheart dúinn beart de réir ár mbriathar a dhéanamh.

Ms Ormonde

I propose to share time with Senator Kitt.

Acting Chairman (Mr. Finucane)

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Ms Ormonde

I have cúpla focal a rá ar an mBille seo. I recognise and acknowledge the Minister's commitment since her appointment to the Department of Education and Science. This commitment was evident in the €1.2 billion allocated over a five-year period for investment in third level and fourth level education. If our highly qualified graduates are to be at the cutting edge of technology in the future, there must be adequate investment in education. I note with delight the Government's commitment in this regard.

We are all aware of the good reputation of National University of Ireland, Galway, in terms of the quality of its graduates, lecturers and facilities. However, section 3 of the University College Galway Act 1929 meant there was discrimination. I was amazed to learn of cases where highly qualified academics were barred from appointment to various positions in the university on the basis that they were not fluent in Irish. This would not stand up in today's thinking and, in this context, the Bill is to be welcomed. The president of the university has also expressed delight about it.

We must be able to participate and compete in the world of research and development. We are, however, still behind the United States and Japan in terms of our commitment in this regard and we have much to do to catch up. Important in this regard is the recognition of a fourth level in regard to research. This is vital for the functioning of our knowledge based economy. We have a vision for 2010 relating to globalisation and the Lisbon Agenda, and it is important that we have a level playing pitch with our European partners and that our third level institutions can recruit the best staff. The commitment to Government funding for this objective is vital.

This legislation means that National University of Ireland, Galway, will be facilitated in recruiting the best qualified staff while also being obliged to promote the Irish language. That is the balance sought through the removal of the discriminatory section of the 1929 Act and the inclusion of provisions relating to the delivery of education through Irish. In a knowledge based economy, we must promote and maintain competitiveness through the facilitation of high-quality research activity. We can only do this by having a level playing pitch for all. The scale of the Government's funding allocation indicates its commitment in this regard. I congratulate the Minister on taking this issue on board. It will be welcomed by all.

Mr. Kitt

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus an mBille, agus gabhaim comhghairdeas go háirithe leis an Aire agus le hUachtarán agus foireann Choláiste Phríomh-Scoile na Gaillimhe. Tá foireann an choláiste ag iarraidh an leasú seo a bhaint amach le blianta fada, agus is maith an rud é go bhfuil díospóireacht againn anois sa Seanad ar an mBille seo.

Gabhaim comhghairdeas agus buíochas freisin le roinn na Gaeilge san ollscoil i nGaillimh. Bíonn cúrsaí Gaeilge acu agus deirí seachtaine ar an Cheathrú Rua mar pháirt de na cúrsaí sin, agus tá a lán oibre déanta acu chun an Ghaeilge a fhorbairt. Tá sé an-tábhachtach freisin go mbeidh oideachas á chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge sa choláiste. Sin aidhm an phlean forbartha agus straitéisigh sa choláiste.

Tá a fhios agam go maith go bhfuil an-suim ag an gcoláiste i bhforbairt na Gaeilge, agus anois tá sé sa Bhille seo, agus beidh sé mar dhlí tar éis na díospóireachta sa Seanad agus sa Dáil. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an Bille seo tríd na Tithe go luath.

Like other speakers, I congratulate the Minister on her achievements in regard to funding for third level institutions. She mentioned a figure of €1.2 billion in terms of investment in the next five years. The emphasis in the budget on third and fourth level education is welcome and encouraging.

The substantive part of this Bill relates to appointments to any — I emphasise the word "any"— post in National University of Ireland, Galway. Heretofore, a most unusual situation pertained whereby, for any post in the university, preference was given to candidates with the ability to do their work through the medium of Irish. Consider, for example, where two candidates, A and B, are both qualified for a particular post but A is ranked ahead of B. In the event, however, that only B is competent to carry out the duties of the post through Irish, he or she, rather than A, would be recruited.

I welcome the university's president, Professor Ó Muircheartaigh, to the Visitors Gallery. I hope he does not mind me relating what he has said to me on a number of occasions, that if a Nobel prize winner were available for a position in the university but did not have competency in Irish, he or she could not be appointed. This seems wrong and unfair. As the Minister observed, court cases have arisen as a consequence of this, an undesirable situation that nobody would wish to continue.

Senator O'Toole is correct in his observations about inflexible instruments in regard to the recruitment of staff. It is amazing that having appointed a person to the university, he or she, under the present legislation, is not obliged to make any contribution to the provision of third level education through Irish. Under the Universities Act 1997, moreover, National University of Ireland, Galway, is required to make every effort to recruit the highest quality staff for every position. This could be in conflict with the university's obligation to give preference to candidates competent in Irish. The Minister addresses these issues in the Bill.

I very much welcome the Bill and hope it will pass quickly through the Houses. I am also glad to learn that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, will be involved in further discussions with the Minister for Education and Science on this matter. I hope there will be a positive outcome for National University of Ireland, Galway, both in terms of staffing and as a result of the new provision that each strategic development plan must facilitate the delivery of education through the medium of the Irish language.

Ms Tuffy

On behalf of the Labour Party I support this Bill and the proposed changes proposed for University College Galway. In a general sense, I support the principle of the legislation because it proposes to introduce a more flexible and holistic approach to the Irish language as opposed to the more technical, restrictive and discriminatory approach.

There is a need for this type of approach to the Irish language generally. The Fine Gael leader's approach to the Irish language may have been to jump in and give a response to different issues without considering all the different aspects. We must examine the way the language is taught. Perhaps there should be a White Paper on it. Our approach to the Irish language may be contributing to it becoming less popular.

I could not understand most of what Senator O'Toole said. While I am one of these people who was taught Irish throughout my school years, I can neither speak nor understand it. Perhaps I could understand it if it was written better. Much of this is my fault, about which I must do something. Many people are in the same position. There is a perception among many people that the Irish language movement is elitist. This may be because people are faced with an all or nothing choice. Some people may not wish to speak the language because, given their limited skills, they may think people will be annoyed because they are making a mess of it or whatever. Something must be done about the way Irish is taught in our education system. There must be a consensus and consultations must take place on the issue.

I hope colleges will introduce more modular-based teaching. While I am not as familiar as other speakers with University College Galway, I know the university will move in that direction. There is a need to provide a more flexible model of third level education. As I said previously, it is one of the most important aspects when it comes to equality of access to education and so on. Opportunities must be provided for people to access third level education throughout their lives. If they do not have an opportunity to access it directly after leaving secondary school, they should have an opportunity to do so later.

We all need the opportunity to upskill. In order to do so, a more flexible model of education should be introduced that would allow people to study part time during the day. There are many ways of doing so. One could drop out and go back in at a different stage, or one could move on to different levels along the way. For example, one could study for a degree and so on. The universities need to do more in that regard, including University College Galway. While a lot is being done, much more needs to be done.

The Minister must ensure that people who study part time have the same equality of access to education as people who study full time. I suggested previously to the Minister that she must fund colleges per credit, so that they are funded by delivery of the credit of a course as opposed to the year and so on. This should be done in a way that would provide free tuition for part-time students similar to people on corresponding full-time courses.

I congratulate the Minister on her recent announcement of funding for the third level sector. I made representations to her about IT Tallaght, which is the third level institution in the area I represent. I am a public representative for South County Dublin. It is a positive move by the Minister which is important for all the colleges concerned. IT Tallaght did a certain amount of work to try to get more people from the area to go to college. In order to achieve this, the college needed greater capacity, for which the funding will be very important.

Given the funding which has been made available, colleges should do more to provide access for people from the different social classes. They should encourage people from their own area to go to college, whether part time or full time. Colleges have a duty in that regard because they are receiving taxpayers' money.

Free part-time education is the next issue that must be dealt with. This has been called for by Aontas and the various studies the Minister has on her table such as the report of the task force on lifelong learning. The Minister will be familiar with other reports which conclude that part-time students should be treated in the same way as full-time students.

I welcome the general thrust of the Bill. I would like to take this opportunity to raise the plight of Ms Marie-Therese O'Loughlin. Is there a possibility that the institution she attended would be included in the Schedule to the redress Act? There is a legal argument that the Minister could consider doing so. I hope the issue is being considered fully by the Minister.

Ms Cox

I am pleased the Minister is in the House and that I have an opportunity to speak briefly on the University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005. As someone who comes from Galway and graduated from the college with a diploma in systems analysis, it gives me great pleasure to be here to share some of the ideas and recognition I feel the university is due. I also welcome the Bill.

University College Galway has a proud history. In recent times it has played an integral role in the success of the west of Ireland. This does not include just Galway city and its immediate environs, but the whole of the west coast. Until there was an expansion in the whole area of third level education, students from Kerry to Donegal had no choice but to go to college in Galway. Many people are very proud graduates of the college.

When I graduated in 1985-86, the college was a very small campus. The changes that have taken place over the past number of years are a credit to the various professors who were presidents of the college and the vision and attitude they brought to the development of education on the west coast. We have always been proud of our history in Ireland, being on the periphery of Europe, in overcoming strong barriers to become a country about which we are also justifiably proud.

Institutions such as University College Galway should be proud of the way they have managed the development of centres of excellence, innovative and flexible learning programmes and the grassroots addressing of educational issues in the west. This is not to take away from other institutions throughout the country. I compliment all the presidents involved over the past number of years, in particular, the people I have known since becoming involved in public life, including President Ó hEocha, President Fottrell and President Ó Muircheartaigh.

The college has presented a number of famous people with honorary doctorates. I was present at the conferring of Hillary Clinton and Nelson Mandela, both of whom are fine people and we were proud to present them with an honorary doctorate. Many local people in Galway have also been honoured by the university.

However, times change as do society and countries and with that change, which this university has welcomed, there is a need for it to be innovative, flexible and adaptable. If our universities, including the university in Galway, are to continue to be the centres of excellence that we expect and demand, if changes are necessary it is important that we implement them. I recognise the need for this amending legislation.

Concern has been expressed that removing the requirement to have an ability in Irish in order to be eligible for recruitment for a job in a university would have a negative impact on the Irish language. Wonderful initiatives to promote the Irish language were taken by the university including the setting up of the Centre for Irish Studies and the Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, which was officially opened on 16 September in Gweedore. That is an example of how we can continue to present the Irish language, make it accessible to the people who need it and who are entitled to have education through the medium of Irish in their localities and throughout the west. It is an outreach programme, the provision of which should be acknowledged. I commend the college on that.

Having read the Bill, I do not consider it will take from the Irish language, rather I expect it will allow the university to continue to provide a greater service, flexibility excellence and enshrine the Irish language in its rightful place within the university setting and, hopefully, continue such provision at postgraduate level, including that at doctorate level. When opportunities are presented such as the introduction of this Bill in the Seanad, it is important that we act on them.

Similarly, when colleges provide education through Irish or their curriculum complements Irish education, it is important to ensure that either the gaelscoileanna or the meánscoileanna, in particular in the case of Galway city, have a proper feeder system to the university. In this respect, there is only one secondary school in Galway. It is located in a small building and the accommodation provided needs to be expanded. Provision in that respect was included in the public private partnership projects announced by the Minister recently and I thank her for her commitment in that regard, although there is a difficulty in securing a site. It would be helpful if the Minister would keep the accommodation needs of that school on her agenda. We may need additional help in that respect. If we lose out in terms of the number of students attending the school and it is refusing students because it does not have sufficient places or space, the work we do in this area in our universities will be in vain because we will not have in place a proper feeder system. Irish has an important part to play in the university sector.

I plead with the Minister and anybody else from the university who may be listening for the needs of people with special needs to be given greater focus. Children with special needs are being mainstreamed into primary and secondary schools. A proper access programme should be in place that recognises the needs of these people. When a student with special needs finishes secondary school, that student should have an opportunity to attend a third level institution such as University College Galway and enjoy the opportunities that many of us have had to go to third level. While I acknowledge we are discussing the education through the medium of Irish in this university, I put on record the need for such an access programme. I thank the Acting Chairman for her indulgence and commend the Bill to the House.

Mr. Norris

Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. B'fhearr liom an Ghaeilge a labhairt go minic sa Seanad, ach níl an teanga agam go flúirseach.

Ms M. Hanafin

Go maith.

Mr. Norris

I am sorry about that because I loved Irish in school.

Acting Chairman (Dr. Henry)

Go han-mhaith, Senator.

Mr. Norris

I thank the Acting Chairman for that. I had a very good Irish teacher, the late Frank Peters from Cork, and as a result of his ministrations I believe I am the only person around who is still a member of the Peig Sayers fan club and appreciation society. For people like me, it opened up a whole world that I had not suspected, the world of the old Gaelic life as survived out on the islands in the western part of the country. I found it immensely moving and remarkable.

The Minister will not be surprised to learn that the issue of the Irish language arose on the Order of Business today, partly related to this Bill, which I believe everybody has welcomed, but also in the general context of the decline of the Irish language, which I am afraid still seems to be the case. I hope it can be recused. Developments such as Teilifís na Gaeilge are extremely good. I watch TG4 with the little notes of translation——

Ms Cox

Subtitles.

Mr. Norris

Yes, the subtitles. They are fine documentaries on that station. The Minister is being sensible and practical in this Bill unlike other elements within the Government. I completely agree with Senator O'Toole that the narrow fanatical pushing of the placename issue over the heads of local people is disastrous. It is what gets people's backs up against the language. That should not be done. We need to coax and encourage people by giving them cartoons, soap operas, the news and weather forecast in Irish and thereby creating a living culture in the language.

There was a controversy over the question of Irish being made one of the official languages of the European Union and the legislation that was passed here requiring all legislation to be translated into Irish. The Taoiseach raised this matter in the other House and complained because of newspaper reports of enormous amounts — I forget whether it was €50,000, €100,000 or €500,000 — for translating some obscure European legislation, but that should not stand unchallenged on the record. I understand that the person in charge of the translation service came back with an answer which put it in a rather different context and the sum involved was comparatively moderate.

It is also important to recognise that by providing jobs we are encouraging the language, and we should do that. I am all in favour of measures, even if they are a little expensive, that provide jobs and a career pattern for people who learn and love the Irish language and subsequently they find there is a job for them within that cultural context. I approve of that and am prepared to go quite a long way, particularly in these day of State affluence, to support that.

However, this Bill addresses a situation which is the opposite of that. It does not help people to get jobs rather it inhibits them and, worse than that, it inhibits a very fine university such as University College Galway from getting the best people on its academic staff. In an international market, particularly when one is dealing with research, by making the capacity to teach through the medium of Irish a criterion, one is disastrously narrowing the market. This would be a real pity, particularly because UCG has such a distinguished record in a variety of subjects. I can think immediately of the department of oceanography there, which is remarkable and a world leader. I know that Professor William Schabas, an internationally distinguished lawyer specialising in human rights is a member of the legal section in UCG. I doubt very much if he is fluent in the Irish national tongue.

It would have been a dreadful mistake not to get the services of people such as that simply on the narrow basis that they do not know the Irish language. This involves a recognition that the Irish language has not survived completely as a current language. If somebody from the international academic community was applying for a job in another country such as France, that person would have to learn the language not only for use during the hours of teaching but to conduct telephone conversations, travel on a bus or go shopping. That does not happen here. We must be realistic and accept that, alas, Irish is not an everyday language here. Perhaps it will come back as a kind of co-partner with English and that is for what we must hope.

That was acknowledged in the Minister's opening speech, the language of which was quite careful. She concluded by saying that the Bill before the House "represents a significant step forward in modernising our education system while demonstrating an ongoing commitment" to the language. I can recognise the dying fall in such comments. It is clear from the tone of the Minister's remarks that the Government is shedding some of its attachment to the slightly fanatical view of the Irish language, which is to be welcomed. I do not think such progress necessarily represents a danger to the language.

The Minister indicated that the initiative for the changes being made in this legislation came from University College Galway, rather than being imposed by the Minister for Education and Science. It is to be welcomed as an example of real democracy. The same cannot be said about the cack-handed nonsense about placenames. The Minister, Deputy Hanafin, responded to a request from the academic community.

I know of a number of cases of really good people who were not appointed to positions at University College Galway because they did not meet the university's language requirements. It is a real pity that there is a track record of jobs being denied to people from whose work the university would have benefitted. I am delighted that UCG has developed a series of educational satellites in its hinterland. I was not aware that such work was in progress. I was particularly pleased to learn about the existence of Áras Uí Cadhain because I remember very well the late Máirtín Ó Cadhain, a remarkable man who taught Irish at Trinity College for many years. He wrote a great surrealist novel, Cré na Cille, which unfortunately has not enjoyed the wider market it would have enjoyed if it had been written in English.

As a representative of Trinity College, which is one of University College Galway's sister universities, I welcome the sensitive treatment of Irish in UCG. Trinity College has a long history of cherishing the Irish language. I understand that the first established chair of Irish was in Trinity College. Bishop Bedell translated the Bible and the book of prayer, although I do not think there was a great deal of appetite for the latter. I am not sure whether there was much appetite for the Irish version of the Bible. The first font of Irish letters was developed at Trinity College. I regret that we abandoned the use of the lovely and distinctive cló-Gaelach, but I suppose that is progress. While I lament the abandonment of the cló-Gaelach, I do not doubt that the Bill before the House represents progress. It will make it easier to put in place a recruitment policy that will ensure the best talent is attracted to UCG, which is a very fine university of which we all can be proud.

Minister for Education and Science (Ms M. Hanafin)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil leis na Seanadóirí ar fad as ucht an fháilte a chuireadar romham agus roimh an mBille seo. Go háirithe, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas agus moladh a thabhairt dos na Seanadóirí go léir a labhair i nGaeilge. Thaispeáin siad go díreach an méid Gaeilge atá ag gach Ball den Seanad agus, dár ndóigh, ag muintir na hÉireann. Ní gá ach a bheith muiníneach as í a usáid. Is cuma má táimid mall nó lochtach — má táimid sásta an Ghaeilge a labhairt, beidh todhchaí ann don Ghaeilge.

It is interesting that I first encountered this Bill when, as Chief Whip, the president of UCG, Professor Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, asked me if I could progress it. I referred him to the then Minister for Education and Science, little thinking that I would be bringing the Bill to the Seanad today. I am delighted that the Bill has reached this stage.

Labhair an-chuid Seanadóirí go ginearálta mar gheall ar an Ghaeilge. Ní dóigh liom gurb í seo an t-am chun deireadh a chur le Gaeilge éigeantach sna meánscoileanna. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil bláth agus forbairt ar siúl sa Ghaeilge faoi láthair, ós rud é go bhfuil tír ilchultúrtha againn. Déarfainn go bhfuil meas níos mó ag daoine ar an nGaeilge anois, toisc go bhfuil sí ar fás ag an leibhéal áitiúil agus go bhfuil stádas oifigiúil faighte aici ag an leibhéal Eorpach.

As a former teacher of Irish to honours leaving certificate level, I strongly believe that the Irish syllabus and curriculum need to be changed. It would be easier for teachers to use their skills and to teach the Irish language if 50% of the marks in the Irish examination were allocated on the basis of an oral examination. D'fhéadfadh na múinteoirí díospóireachtaí, labhairt phoiblí, drámaíocht agus i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. If people love the spoken language, it will last. I have asked the curriculum board to examine matters of that nature.

For the first time in many decades, there is now at least one gaelscoil in every county in Ireland. The gaelcholáiste and aonaid network is being expanded. The language has been recognised at EU level. In the new multicultural Ireland, people are becoming more conscious of the value of our identity. Therefore, it would be very short-sighted to provide that it is no longer compulsory to study Irish to leaving certificate level. I do not doubt that it would lead to the death knell of the language. The leaving certificate curriculum is broad, whereas the UK system asks A-level students to study two or three subjects. Under this country's system, leaving certificate students take seven subjects. They are required to study English and mathematics, encouraged to take a science subject and recommended to learn a language. There is space for compulsory Irish as well. It should be considered in the context of the broad and successful form of education we offer in our second level schools.

A number of Senators mentioned the Government's investment in third level education. I thank them for their kind comments in that regard. It is interesting to note that an additional investment of €1.2 billion will be made in the third level sector over the next five years. Based on current funding, it appears that the total amount that will be spent in that sector will be €8 billion. Such money is needed because 54% of school leavers progress to third level education. A significant amount of money is being invested by the top multinational companies in universities and institutes of technology to develop the pharmaceutical and information technology industries. We need to provide top-quality graduates for such companies.

We should ensure that many people benefit from third level education, not only because such education is valuable in itself, but also because it is valuable to society. I am pleased, therefore, that the Government is making an additional capital investment and supporting the core funding of colleges in the third level sector. We need to encourage reform, modernisation and innovation in our universities. The University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005 fits into that overall context. We are looking for excellence in teaching and research throughout the third level sector. Our universities need to be among the top 100 or 200 such institutions in the world.

Senators are aware that earlier this year, the Taoiseach led a delegation of 200 business people, four Ministers and the presidents of many of our universities and colleges on a visit to China. The members of the group, who comprised the largest such delegation ever to leave this country, were charged with attracting people from China to come to Ireland, which can offer them quality education and care. A similar operation will take place in India next January.

We need to put in place quality structures and facilities to attract quality researchers and partners in education. Officials in UCG feel that their attempts to attract people to the university have been hindered by the regulations which are being amended by the legislation before the House. I am happy to introduce this Bill to meet UCG's requirements. The university authorities have always fulfilled their obligations to the Irish language very well. Tuigeann siad go maith an dualgas atá orthu toisc go bhfuil siad suite cóngarach don Ghaeltacht. Tá meas agus grá acu don Ghaeilge. Cuireann siad an Ghaeilge chun cinn i gconaí and I am satisfied that they will continue to do so. Representatives of the HEA will meet the presidents of the universities in the next term to discuss how they can operate in a similar manner.

There has been an increase in the number of people who want to be given their second level education through Irish. The increased demand for translators and interpreters at EU level will lead to significant job opportunities. We have to ensure we can respond to that. It is not all about the economy and the creation of jobs, however — it is about ensuring excellence and quality. We do not want University College Galway, which has fulfilled its mandate in this regard, to be hindered in any way as it develops as a top-class international university. The other universities will also have to step up to the plate, as I said in my opening remarks. They will have to encourage the use of the Irish language not only by supporting societies and organisations, but also by providing third level education through Irish for those students who want it.

Senator Tuffy raised some issues about the changing structures within the third level sector, such as the modularisation of degree courses. The changes which are taking place in our colleges and universities are widening the opportunities which are offered to people who wish to participate in third level education. The Government's strong support for such changes is recognised in its decision to allocate €300 million, on a competitive basis, to the strategic innovation fund. Access to third level education will be one of the criteria which will have to be met. We do not want it to be all about IT systems and collaboration in change. It will also have to involve encouraging more and more people to avail of third level education.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí go léir as ucht na tacaíochta a thug siad don Bhille seo, do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus do sheansanna fostaíochta in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

Question put and agreed to.

Acting Chairman

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Mr. Fitzgerald

Now.

Agreed to take remaining Stages today.