David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before we move off this issue, I wish to put something to Mr. Love. We had a discussion earlier about an independent or external examination or review of one institute. We have just heard from another higher education president who has given his view on the matter. He used the word "unacceptable". I have been raising very similar concerns and I need to know before I leave here today that the concerns I have raised, which are genuine, reasonable and are in the best interests of all institutions, will be addressed.

If nothing else comes of this, we must at least tighten up on the relationship between people in management and governance roles and spin-out companies. However, we cannot just examine whether there was compliance with rules within an institute. There must also be a thorough examination of the differences and variations between the institutes. We must examine whether it is appropriate for heads of research and presidents of institutes to have shareholdings in companies in which they have an obvious role and where everyone accepts there is a conflict and whether it is possible to manage those conflicts. In that context, I have concerns.

Dr. Love has expressed his view but it does not tally with my world view. I want be sure that the external review will have very strong terms of reference and will examine all of these issues. The review cannot just focus on whether a policy was adhered to but also on whether the policy itself is appropriate. It must assess whether there is sufficient arms-length separation between people who hold very senior posts in educational institutions and people who have a connection with spin-out companies. That is very important but I am not sure, from what I have heard this morning, that the external review is the best possible way to do that. I fear that it could be a desktop examination of somebody else's work, which is not appropriate.