I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to consolidate the Irish higher education and research sector so as to ensure a more efficient, responsible and effective structure for delivering quality education, research and knowledge resources to the Irish people.
I thank the Leader for agreeing to my request. I request that leave be granted to introduce a Bill to provide for the development of a consolidated, legislative framework for higher education and research in Ireland to create a more modern approach to public expenditure management for funding higher education, to place all universities, institutes of technology and the new technological universities under one single regulatory structure and to create a clearer definition of academic tenure and academic freedom. The Bill would not change or modify any existing resource demand. All the proposals contained within it concern existing resources and aim to more efficiently direct these resources.
