James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The realistic powers that may be available to any Minister to intervene in an industrial relations dispute involving a private company are limited, but that is exactly what the industrial relations machinery of the State is there for.

Having said that, I had a look at the BIMM website and went through some documentation that is publicly available, and there is something the college calls a terms and conditions sheet, which is a sort of a contract with students, within which it cites its obligations to students, including the provision of courses, reasonable care and skill and so on. I remind the college of that obligation, which it has stated on a contractual basis, that it has to its students. Perhaps that is something it will reflect on. IFUT has declared its willingness to engage, and I encourage both sides to engage in the industrial relations machinery of the State. That is what it is there for. It can provide a solution to this issue, which I very much hope is brought to a head soon for the benefit of the staff, the students and all involved.

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