Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Does the Tánaiste agree it would be a very negative and retrograde step if the Government were to increase those charges, given the centrality of participation in third level education? What we witnessed in the last decade was a dramatic and significant expansion of third level participation and a transformation of the research landscape. If we are to achieve recovery we must maintain that.

The Minister, Deputy Quinn, would not comment yesterday on the third level fees issue in advance of the budget. However, he did say:

The politics of promises, if you like, in the present economic situation are such and are on a scale that I don't think any of us fully realise that no such promises can be given and any such promises would be misleading.

He said that yesterday, yet four days before the election he could sign any pledge students put before him. He can promise all he likes before an election but he cannot state clearly what he intends to do days in advance of a budget.

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