Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will be very tight on time.

Apologies have been received from Deputies Alan Farrell and Josepha Madigan.

Are the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September agreed to? Agreed. One item brought to my attention as arising from the minutes is that we received a letter last week about the Higher Education Authority, third level institutions and consultancy fees. It relates to our ongoing concern about and interest in spending by the various third level institutions. We have discussed the Cork Institute of Technology, CIT, on a number of occasions. I have been presented with an article from the Evening Echowhich indicates that Cork Institute of Technology recently spent almost €13,000 in marking the retirement of the outgoing president. This information was provided as part of the freedom of information process. There was €5,000 spent on catering and €3,000 on providing tables. There were also pipes and drapes and other elements. I propose that in view of current difficulties we write to Cork Institute of Technology for a detailed explanation as to why it felt it was appropriate to spend €13,000. The student hardship fund would have benefited more from the €13,000 rather having than a banquet to celebrate a retiring official. Is that agreed?