Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for attending the debate. I wish to bring three points to the attention of Members and the Minister. First, all those politicians, including the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and prominent educationalists now calling for the reintroduction of third level fees have apparently not even read the report of Clancy and Wall on the social background of higher education entrants. They have certainly not analysed any of the report's findings on the participation rates in higher education. Second, they apparently are not aware of one of the main justifications for the abolition of fees in 1996. Third, they apparently believe that inequality in third level participation can only be addressed exclusively in the context of school leavers attending full-time courses and they have no interest in the disadvantage suffered by adults and part-time students.