Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will turn briefly to the point made on the McMahon report. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton is present. The Taoiseach makes light of the fact it is not in the programme for Government because not everything can be. The issue is that it was in the draft programme for Government and was dropped. Why was it dropped? Does it indicate that the 173 recommendations of Mr. Justice McMahon, which are really important, will be implemented or are to be reviewed or modified? As the Taoiseach knows, each Government Department takes the programme for Government as its working bible. If it is not in there, it is not part of the working bible. Is the report and its 173 recommendations to be implemented in full or reviewed?

In the new programme the Government has decided to abandon the previous Government's policy of developing new technological universities through the amalgamation of existing institutes of technology. The mandatory mergers are now to be reviewed. That has caused grave disquiet in the south east. The amalgamation of Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology is, as the Taoiseach knows, finally being advanced after many speed bumps. Will the Taoiseach give clarity to both institutions today that it is the Government's intention to proceed with the establishment of a technological university in the south east, as the previous Government envisaged, based on the amalgamation of Waterford and Carlow Institutes of Technology?

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