Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On that point, one of the meetings listed for the new year - basically because of Senator Moloney - is multi-lingualism in an EU context. That is scheduled for 10 April 2013.
I wanted to raise one matter with the Minister, which is more of a point than a question. There is an issue about the university ranking system which some say is elitist and ad hoc. If we are to influence an EU system, there should be an element covering the institutes of technology or the technological universities to be. The new chairman-designate of the quality and qualifications body addressed this committee about transfer, access and progression.

These must be part of it. How good is a college if it cannot get language students going from an apprenticeship to a degree, for example, or students from VECs into universities? This, along with social inclusion and access, should be part of the ranking.

I thank the Minister for his presentation and there was a good engagement today about the Minister’s forthcoming European Council meeting.