On behalf of the House I thank the Minister and her officials for bringing the Bill to the House so quickly.
University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages.
Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I thank the Minister and her officials for bringing the Bill to the House and responding so quickly to the requests of the president and governing authority of University College Galway. As some other issues arose during the debate I hope the Minister will return soon to debate them thoroughly in the fullness of time. It is important that the additional resources the Minister has made available to the universities will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner and that the agreement mentioned previously, that was within the college, can be spread to the other colleges in order that there will be a fair distribution of resources where the need is greatest.
That University College Galway is unique in the west in terms of its importance to the economy of the region is recognised by the Minister in the allocation of funding. I look forward to further announcements in that area in the future.
I join with my colleagues in complimenting the Minister on bringing forward this Bill. It is a defining moment for NUIG and in a wider sense it is a defining moment for third level and post third-level education. I congratulate the Minister on her commitment to third level and post-third level education and acknowledge her vision in that area.
Níor mhaith liom a thuilleadh a rá ach amháin go mbeidh mé ag dul ar aghaidh anois chun an Bille a chur os comhair na Dála, agus chomh luath agus is féidir linn, beidh NUIG in ann to recruit based on new arrangements rather than the old ones.
Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 12.55 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m.