214. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, have been excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates; if he will consider amending the Bill to ensure inclusivity for all degree graduates who have contributed to Ireland's higher educational landscape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37383/24]

215. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, have been excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates; and if he will consider amending the Bill to ensure inclusivity for all degree graduates who have contributed to Ireland's higher educational landscape. [37512/24]

226. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, are to be excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37372/24]

227. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, have been excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates; if he will consider amending the Bill to ensure inclusivity for all degree graduates who have contributed to Ireland’s higher educational landscape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37392/24]

232. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, have been excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates; if he will consider amending the Bill to ensure exclusivity for all degree graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37567/24]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215, 226, 227 and 232 together.

The Government recently approved the text of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 and I expect the Bill to be published shortly. The provisions in the Bill respond to the Supreme Court decisions last year which found that sections 6 and 7 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 were unconstitutional because they were not consistent with Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution, as amended. The Court deemed that the manner in which the proposal to amend Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution was framed and put to the people by way of referendum indicated that it required some action to subsequently amend the rules on the franchise for electing university members.

The proposals in the Bill provide for a new six-seat Higher Education constituency, to elect the Seanad’s six University members. It is proposed that this constituency will replace the two existing three-seat constituencies: the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency and the Dublin University constituency. The Bill proposes that the eligibility criteria for being an elector of the Higher Education constituency would be as follows: a person shall be (i) aged 18 years or more (ii) an Irish citizen and (iii) a graduate of the NUI, University of Dublin or a designated institution of Higher Education as defined by Section 53 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, with each elector limited to one vote.

The Higher Education Authority Act provides for a process whereby higher education institutions not currently designated can in future apply for designation.