Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Is it not the case that the Minister's predecessor outlined her support for such a strategy when she was in office? It has taken us a very long time to get to the stage of announcing this strategy. Does the Minister agree that whoever chairs this strategic way forward for higher education in this country must be internationally and domestically eminent in industry and the connections between industry and education?

Will the Minister put on the record of the House the suggestion that was mooted some time ago that former EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland had been considered for the chair of this august body, and while the Minister had been "open-minded" to the suggestion, others in Government felt he was the wrong political colour and consequently would not be considered for the chair?

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