Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I should look at my script. I have pointed out some of the issues which I thought the report dealt with well. I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach will agree with one of the issues, and spoke about it last year. The report states there should be no distinction in terms of fees between part-time evening students and full-time students. That is only right and proper. There is a sense of inequity in that area which offends us all.

The OECD made points regarding doctoral awards, not allowing doctorates at institutes of technology and not allowing such institutes to become universities. However, these points are not proven in its report.

Regarding the implication that there would be no university north of a line between Dublin and Galway, Senator MacSharry recently talked about the importance of developing an educational strategy. I am sure he will say more about that today.

I did not get a chance to address the issue of research and development. I am absolutely appalled to learn from the report that two thirds of the money invested in research and development in Irish universities comes from foreign non-nationally owned companies. That will kill our future. Fifteen years ago we were the worst among our European colleagues in terms of investment in research and development. I thought the situation had improved, but that simple statistic bothers and worries me. We should insist that indigenous industry gets involved in research and development and that two thirds figure should be inverted as quickly as possible.

I wish the Minister well and thank her for coming into the debate. I hope she takes some points on board, in particular that the institutes of technology should be moved into the same funding arena as universities, that they should not be restricted in their development, that they should be given a quality assurance scheme to allow them to develop, and that they are not restricted from developing in the direction of becoming universities if they so wish. The latter is not a necessity unless it suits them. The famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology has never found it necessary to become a university. I am not putting this forward as an issue regarding status. It is about what they feel they need for their community, students, area and regional development. The people from the OECD who tell us about regional development have much to learn. The Minister could tell them a lot.