Ms Joan Donegan:

The Senator's first question was about governing authorities and the actual numbers of representatives on governing authorities. The question IFUT would ask is why there is a need for change. We believe the HEA has proved to be an effective governing authority in higher education. We realise that structures need to be modernised, but there seems to be a focus on governance of universities. Why is that? I have not seen anything on the scale of the insinuation through the Bill that there have been very serious governance issues. I am not aware of them. There are checks and balances and Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, looks at quality assurance and accreditation-----