Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Leyden for his important interventions.

I congratulate all the Members who contributed to last night's fascinating and excellent debate on third level tuition fees. We are now three weeks away from the start of the leaving certificate examinations and it is time that students had some clarity from the Government about plans to reintroduce third level fees. Will the Leader give an assurance to the House that a decision on the matter will be taken within the next week to ten days? It is important that there is some conclusion in order that parents and students, in particular, can get the information they need for the next academic year. It is important that we establish the position. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, started out last September and nine months later we still do not have a decision—