Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will consider the matter between now and Report Stage. My understanding is that we are trying to provide flexibility to engage with students' unions but also with other bodies of students that may emerge and which are not students' unions. It is not intended to suggest consulting certain bodies ahead of others. For example, I meet with an excellent group from Trinity College Dublin, led by Mr. Vivian Rath, which works on the whole issue of postgraduate students with disabilities. It is not a students' union. The Deputy is right to raise the matter but the amendment is not to suggest that the Minister of the day or the university can ignore the students' union.