Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate that but we are dealing with the eligibility criteria to access grant aid. The central tenet of the establishment of the appeals board is it should comprise experts. The specific inclusion of students in a representative capacity would be likely to lead to a conflict of interest where objective examination of the facts is required. Nothing in the current provision would preclude the appointment by the Minister of such a person on the basis of expertise rather than on a representative basis. I am, therefore, not in a position to accept the amendment.

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