Ninth Level Ireland

“University governing bodies will be smaller and feature more external members under new legislation to be published next year, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said. He said current legislation on higher education governance is ‘not fit for purpose and does not reflect the world in which we live’ …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 20 November]

“Higher Education Minister Simon Harris pledged to bring forward legislation overhauling current governance structures in higher education institutions, and called some current governance structures ‘archaic’ …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 2 September]

“The Government is examining new measures to crack down on large gatherings, such as college parties, after Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s plans to make it a criminal offence to have more than six people in a person’s home were blocked by the Cabinet …” (more)

[Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 30 August]

“President Michael D Higgins signed the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 into law on August 1st, ensuring tenants who are struggling to pay rent as a result of the pandemic remain protected. This legislation has been met with mixed opinions with Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, one of many opponents to the act describing the measure as an ‘attack on renters’ …” (more)

[Oisín Magfhogartaigh, College Tribune, 18 August]

“Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael): I move: ‘That the Bill be now read a Second Time’. It is a great pleasure to present to the House the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2020, which passed all Stages in the Seanad yesterday. This Bill establishes, for the first time in the history of the State, a Department focused on further and higher education, research, innovation and science. We will now have a Department whose chief remit will be the further and higher education needs of our economy and our people …” (debate, resumed debate)

[Dáil debates, 24 July]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): … I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to present the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020 to the House. The primary purpose of the Bill is to establish the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The establishment of the Department is a major initiative of the new Government. It underscores our strong belief that the interface of knowledge, skills, innovation and access to educational opportunity at further and higher level is critical to our future prosperity and fairness as a society …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 23 July]

“Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail): I move: That leave be granted to introduce Bill entitled an Act to provide for the amendment of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Acts 1937 to 2006, to provide for the provisions of the seventh amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann and to extend the franchise of the university panel of Seanad Éireann to all people who are over eighteen and are holders of an appropriate third level qualification from an Irish Institute of Higher Education and to provide for related matters …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 16 July]

“On the 13th of July, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD, welcomed government approval to publish legislation to establish his department as a major ministry. According to Minister Harris, the Cabinet has approved the new Department which will now be proposed to Dáil and Seanad Éireann …” (more)

[Ahmed Jouda, College Tribune, 14 July]

“More than 40 years after a referendum was passed to extend Seanad voting rights to graduates of all third level institutions, legislation to finally give effect to the result could be among the first Bills debated if a new government is formed …” (more)

[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 22 June]

“Residents living near University College Cork have called on the HSE and gardaí to use powers available under health legislation to stop students and others having house parties. Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association spokeswoman Catherine Clancy said the gardaí and the HSE should use the 1947 Health Act to stop parties in the area in the interest of public health …” (more)

[Barry Roche, Irish Times, 8 June]

“Sir – Changes to the Constitution which governments initiate seem costly exercises in throwing shapes; they’re often not implemented. But now that the Senate elections are nearly upon us, there’s an opportunity to make them take remedial action. In 1979, we passed (92% for) a referendum …” (more)

[John Colgan, Independent, 23 February]

“Sir, – The Constitution originally permitted only TCD graduates and graduates of the three NUI colleges to take part in the Seanad ‘university panel’ election. Since 1979, after a referendum to amend the Constitution, this is no longer the case. However, in practice, for over 30 years Senators and TDs have refused to draft the required legislation …” (more)

[John Hughes, Irish Times, 18 February]

“The Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (1 January 2020) announced the granting of award making powers, with exception of doctoral awards, to all institutes of technology. In welcoming this announcement, the Minister said: ‘This is a significant step for the sector. The measures introduced today establishes all institutes of technology as autonomous awarding bodies, placing them on an equal footing with other designated awarding bodies such as the universities and the RCSI …'” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 1 January]

“The government today granted institutes of technology award-giving powers, in what amounts to a win for the autonomy of regional colleges. Institutes of technology will now be able to independently grant their students degrees, giving them equal rights to universities. The institutes won’t, however, be able to grant doctoral awards …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 1 January]

“We have had a very productive year in the Dept of Education and I worked hard with my senior officials and education stakeholders including the most important stakeholders of all: students, in 2019. The ‘student’ is at the epicentre of my agenda …” (more)

[Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, 31 December]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are encouraging their members to lobby Senators to make amendments to the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019 that would prevent international students from facing significant rises in the cost of health insurance during their time in Ireland …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 17 December]

“The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been formally authorised to use the title of ‘university’ for the first time in 235 years. The institution is to describe itself as ‘RCSI university of medicine and health sciences’ in future …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 December]

“Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (10 December 2019) announced that the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been authorised to use the title of university in Ireland …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 10 December]

“Drivetime‘s John Cooke talks to students in UL about exam mills, and Deirdre Stritch, programme manager with QQI, talks to Mary about the new rules that have been introduced to clamp down on academic cheating …” (mp3)

[RTÉ – Drivetime, 18 November]

“A legal crackdown on the growing number of services writing essays or other assignments for third-level students is under way. New anti-cheating laws came into effect last week making it an offence either to provide or advertise cheating services or to publish adverts promoting such services …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 15 November]