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Written question asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Thursday, 10 November 2005.

Northern Ireland: Stranmillis Teacher Training College

Question
What is the status of Stranmillis Teacher Training College, Belfast; whether there are plans to change this; whether Protestant clergy have been removed from its board of governors; if so, why; and who is the current chairman of its board of governors.
Answer

The Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 incorporated Stranmillis University College as a legally independent higher education institution accountable to a corporate governing body. There are no plans to change the status of Stranmillis University College at present.Under the transitional arrangements within the instrument of government, provided for in the Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, the Church representatives will be appointed to the governing body until the end of their original term of appointment. Once this term of appointment expires, these positions will be filled by a public appointments process, using the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (OCPA NI) guidelines.The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to reserve places on the new governing body for representatives of the three main Protestant Churches once the transitional arrangements are completed. The combined effect of Section 6 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland Act 2000 is that an Order in Council cannot contain a provision which discriminates against a class of persons on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion. Furthermore, Section 24 of the Northern Ireland Act means that no department has the power to make or approve any instrument which discriminates against a class of person on the grounds of religious belief.The current chairperson of the governing body of Stranmillis University College is Mr Stephen Costello, who was appointed by the Department for Employment and Learning, through a public appointments process.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1958; 675 c105-6WA
Session
2005-06
Related items
Subjects
Clergy Colleges of education Governing bodies Northern Ireland Protestantism Stranmillis University College
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk