Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are all very positive. We all recognise the challenges we face but also the opportunities. The message is that Ireland, and our education system, is open for business but we need huge investment in it.

To address the point Mr. McGrane made about the Cassells report, we are not dragging our heels on it. We are awaiting two pieces of research, one of which is on the technical impact, particularly regarding the income contingent loan. That is not to suggest we are going down that road but as a committee we felt we needed some technical report on that, so two different reports have been commissioned. We have looked for video conferencing with a number of other countries that have brought in that system. We await that. This is such an important decision we need to have as much information as possible but at the same time we are urging the Government to make as much investment as possible at this time while it awaits our recommendations on it.

I thank all the witnesses for coming in today. It was a very interesting discussion. I appreciate their insights, observations and recommendations. It was interesting to hear what they are doing within their own organisations in terms of dealing with what is ahead of all of us. I look forward to an engagement at another level and if they want to make any written submissions at a later stage we would welcome that. I also appreciate what Dr. Love said that there will be another round-table discussion because as this process is evolving, more clarity will emerge so it is important that every six months there is an opportunity to do that, to learn from one another and explore what we can say as one voice. Obviously, there will be some differences. The witnesses represent unique organisations that sometimes compete within the same sphere. That is the case with me and my political colleagues also.