Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Later today, there will be a major demonstration of students outside Leinster House. There is a commitment in the revised programme for Government that reads as follows: "Conscious of the economic pressures on parents today, this Government will not proceed with any new scheme of student contribution to Third Level education." That commitment has been interpreted by the partners in government, the Green Party, as meaning there will not be a reintroduction of third level tuition fees or an introduction of fees by the back door such as an increase in the student registration fee. At the weekend there was speculation that the Government was considering increasing the student registration fee from €1,500 to €2,500 or €3,000. By anyone's measure, this would be the introduction of a new scheme of student contribution for third level education. There was also speculation that the Government might introduce a new fee of €500 for post leaving certificate students. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that the interpretation of the commitments in the programme for Government given publicly by the Green Party over a period of time is correct and that there will not be a reintroduction of tuition fees, an increase in the student registration fee to €2,500 or €3,000 or the introduction of a fee for post leaving certificate students?

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