Derek McDowell (Labour)

I concur with Senator O'Toole's remarks regarding compellability legislation, which we are to see tomorrow. There is a clear issue of separation of powers here. We are aware of the reasons why the legislation must be changed but there are possible constitutional implications in that change. While we understand the reason this legislation is being proceeded with fairly quickly, it would not do any harm to wait a few days. This would allow the issue to be publicly teased while people with constitutional and legal expertise voiced a view publicly as to the implications of the legislation, which we have not yet seen. While we understand the need for the legislation, a few more days discussion would have been desirable before we do anything further. I do not see that anything would be prejudiced by allowing that. I am concerned that we will deal with the legislation in only a few hours tomorrow.

I welcome the decision in principle by Trinity College, Dublin, to increase its percentage intake of undergraduates from what it calls "non-traditional backgrounds". We have been spectacularly unsuccessful in producing a dramatic improvement in the participation of students from non-traditional, or disadvantaged, backgrounds in third level education, particularly in the universities. There is much evidence that the most successful measures have been those which seek to link colleges with particular primary and secondary schools and identify particular students who can progress. We should place on the record of this House, not least because we have representatives here of the graduates of that university——