Select Committee on Social Affairs debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1997

Report of Select Committee.

Chairman

I propose the following draft report:

The Select Committee on Social Affairs has considered the Universities Bill, 1996, and has made amendments thereto and has amended the Title to read as follows: "AN ACT TO CONSTITUTE OR ESTABLISH CERTAIN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS UNIVERSITIES UNDER THIS ACT, TO ALLOW FOR THE INCORPORATION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS PARTS OF UNIVERSITIES OR AS UNIVERSITIES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE IN RECEIPT OF MONEYS PROVIDED BY AN tÚDARÁS BY THE CONSTITUTING OF GOVERNING AUTHORITIES AND ACADEMIC COUNCILS AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, TO MAKE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF, PLANNING AND FINANCIAL SCRUTINY AND REPORTING OF UNIVERSITIES, TO AMEND OR PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION AND AMENDING OF CERTAIN UNIVERSITY CHARTERS AND THE CONTINUATION OF STATUTES, TO REPEAL THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, LIMERICK, ACT, 1980, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, DUBLIN, ACT, 1980, AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OTHER ACTS, TO AMEND CERTAIN OTHER ACTS, AND FOR CONNECTED PURPOSES.".

The Bill, as amended, is reported to the Dáil.

Report agreed to.

Ordered to report to the Dáil accordingly.

Ms Bhreathnach

On behalf of the team who fielded on this side, I thank the officials and the Opposition Deputies for their work on Committee Stage. I appreciate the spirit in which we dealt with the Bill and we can enter Report Stage confident, not that we have agreed but that we teased out and familiarised ourselves with its every word in the Bill. I also thank the staff who have served us.

Ms Keogh

We have spent 20 hours on Committee Stage of the Bill so I thank you, Chairman, and your staff for your forbearance. I also thank the Minister and her officials. At long last the Bill has reached Report Stage; if it had been differently drafted initially we might not have had to spend so long on Committee Stage.

Chairman

I thought you were going to say it would have been quicker with a different Chairman.

Ms Keogh

I would never say that.

Miss Coughlan

The Chairman is wonderful.

Ms Keogh

The Bill we eventually pass will be acceptable and I hope it will serve the universities well.

Mr. Martin

I thank you, Chairman, and the staff of the committee for your forbearance, tolerance and kindness throughout the Committee Stage deliberations. I thank the Minister for being responsive on a number of the amendments and her engaging approach, because democracy is about debate. I hope the Bill is stronger leaving Committee Stage than when it entered. I thank the officials who have retained a pleasant demeanour despite the provocation and frustration of listening to us for the last 20 hours. I also thank those in the Public Gallery who have faithfully and loyally listened to us and can now report back to their various bodies. It is good to see people taking an interest in our deliberations.

The Select Committee adjourned at 7.45 p.m.