Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The presidents of various universities were before the committee last week. I want to check the HEA's view on their point that they are losing out to universities across the world in terms of being able retain and hire staff based on the pay structures, not necessarily the cap of €200,000 but the limits of pay within certain levels of academics, for example, a level below professor, dean and senior lecturers, and they sought flexibility in this area. It is obviously a topic that has come up for discussion.

Is there validity to the claim? Dr. Brady and the provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Prendergast, certainly had strong opinions on it.