Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have met the student unions and I have to say that I am shocked by some of the stories I have heard about student unions not being recognised and colleges putting obstacles in their way. I have heard that anecdotally about a number of colleges and I think that is very wrong. However, I have explained to the student unions that I am not sure this legislation is the right place to place a definition of a student union. I, along with Fianna Fáil, am open to considering separate legislation on the recognition of student unions. Obviously, a bit of work will have to go into that. Perhaps somebody on the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills could look at it because a fair issue has been raised. I worry that we are setting up recognition of a student union or legal rights in the definition of it here and I am not sure that would do it or would be good enough. I see the point colleagues are making and I respect them but I think I will sit this one out today. My commitment is definitely there and I have told the student unions that I will work with them to make sure that type of practice is changed. The types of practice outlined by Deputy Paul Murphy today or the types of practice that other student unions have outlined would not be affected by this definition. I am not denigrating anyone. Deputies Paul Murphy and Funchion raised fair points. If what Deputy Paul Murphy is saying is correct, that would be very wrong but this would not change it. If that is happening, it must be changed and we should be working on that. I will suggest to the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills that we work on the fair points that have been raised but I would have thought that if this is accepted today, it will just delay the Bill. I do not know whether we can do so but I want to do everything possible to get this through as soon as possible and if possible, today.

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