I propose to take Questions Nos. 1168 and 1179 together.
My Department had no involvement in the matter raised by the Deputy.
Higher education institutions are academically independent and regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. The Code of Governance for Irish Universities states that ‘The role of the governing authority is governed in particular by Section 18, Universities Act, 1997 which determines that the functions of the governing authority of a university shall be: -- …-- to appoint the chief officer and such other employees as it thinks necessary for the purposes of the university, ….’.
Given academic autonomy, the requirements for appointment to academic appointments are a matter for the institutions themselves.
With respect to remuneration, public pay policy applies to universities, including in respect of secondments between public bodies.