Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. However, she failed to deal with the crux of the issue, namely, the fact that the TUI has now lodged a dispute with the LRC. She also failed to address any of the concerns the TUI has raised about the process, for example, the fact that it has no confidence in any aspect of it. We now face a situation where the very people who are being asked to deliver technological university status have no confidence in the process. They envisage a situation whereby a merged entity could be created but that it might fail to meet the strict criteria. The criteria were discussed previously in the context of Waterford and Carlow institutes of technology and the problems caused in that regard. I refer to the criteria for the number of staff, their qualifications and whether they will be able to meet the high standard which has been set.

The crux of the issue is that we are asking institutions to merge with the prospect of becoming technological universities but with no guarantee that they will achieve that designation once they merge. As a result, institutions having merged may have reduced their courses or rationalised the number of teaching staff and may not get the benefits of being designated as technological university. This issue must be addressed.

See this speech in context