Ms Annette Dolan:

What is set out in the Bill could mean that one of the campuses would not have staff representation. That would be horrific. This goes to what Senator Byrne spoke about in terms of accountability and a governing body acting as a corporate entity guarding public money. Staff representatives tend to be the ones raising the issues at governing bodies because they know what is happening on the ground. It is important to have that robustness so that issues are raised at the governing body. If GMIT, IT Sligo or LYIT is without such representation, it will not augur well for those regions.

The technological universities are in their infancy. We have had many difficulties getting to this space, so we should be supporting them and ensuring that they are successful entities. The agreed changes that are set out in the Technological Universities Act are working well, and now is not the right time to change them.