Mr. Michael Casey:

The core business of universities will always be teaching undergraduates and postgraduates and undertaking research. I do not think there is a significant risk that universities will take their eye off that ball. There has been a necessity to generate income, from whatever source, in light of the fact that there is a relatively fixed cost base for institutions. Staffing levels, pay and everything else are largely outside the control of the institutions so there has been a need to expand income in those areas. I do not think that is a bad thing and institutions should not be taking their eye off the ball. The processes and resources that have been put in place to try to exploit opportunities in those areas have probably been mainstreamed to some extent and that is a good development for the institutions as we emerge, one hopes, from the recent period of sustained cuts.