Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is a matter for the Whips. I am sure the Deputy can deal with it through parliamentary questions and other mechanisms and that he can obtain from the Minister an expression of his views on these matters. I point out that the Government has yet to consider any detailed proposals. Policy initiatives in this area are as relevant as they were in respect of the response I gave to Deputy Ó Caoláin, however elongated it may have seemed to him. They concernwhat is sustainable in the circumstances in which we find ourselves and how we can make sure to fund third and fourth-level education adequately in this country, given what our competitors are doing and how they sustain world-class facilities. We must make sure we have an adequate finance mechanism for this as elsewhere.

See this speech in context