Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

If I could comment, I met the petitioner on a number of occasions. As I explained to him, neither I nor this committee is in a position to adjudicate on the specific events that occurred with him. However, he seems to raise some legitimate concerns and a legitimate issue as to whether there is a level playing field when a student - one could more generally say "an individual" - is dealing with a large institution with all the resources, particularly legal resources in cases of dispute, that it has available and whether there is an independent dispute resolution mechanism where both sides have equal resources at their disposal to adequately represent themselves and ensure fair adjudication of any dispute.

The petition is strengthened in raising the issues in that it references the Hunt report produced by former Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness which has independently identified that there are issues to do with governance and properly resourcing and supporting students. The report deals particularly with third level, but the issues could apply to other levels as well, for students to have the support necessary to ensure the best experience and a fair interaction with college authorities, particularly in situations of dispute.

These are serious matters. As the recommendations from the secretariat indicate, we should ask the Department of Education and Skills precisely what are the procedures and also to look at what goes on in third level institutions to deal with situations of dispute or allegations of bullying or malpractice.